Boutique cinema planned for trendy fashion quarter

By BERNARD ORSMAN

The owners of a central Auckland carpark have approval to turn part of the building into a boutique cinema with three screens and retail space.

It would be the first cinema complex in central Auckland since the Force Entertainment Centre, now owned by Sky City, opened in 1999. The only other downtown cinema is the Academy in Lorne St, which has two screens showing art house films.

Westmark Group, which was involved in the award-winning $60 million Chancery shopping centre, has planning approval to build one 71-seat and two 72-seat cinemas across the street from the Chancery in the city's trendy fashion quarter.

Westmark's Brian Mead said the cinema was only an idea at this stage and it did not have a commitment from a cinema operator. A decision was two to three months away, he said.

The company has lodged detailed plans with the Auckland City Council to redevelop the western part of the parking building bounded by Chancery St, Bacons Lane, Kitchener St and Bankside Rd for a future office or accommodation twin tower development.

The plans involve alterations to four carparking levels fronting Bacons Lane for cinema, retail and office space and four new levels of office space. The ground level would contain cinemas, retail, food and beverage activities, an office lobby and an area for outside dining. An option for apartments in the office space has been left open.