Heritage building set for quake demolition

A quake-damaged building is demolished in the Christchurch suburb of Riccarton. Photo / Greg Bowker

A Sydenham heritage building damaged beyond repair by the September 4 Canterbury earthquake is scheduled to be demolished this week.

The owner of building at 456 Colombo Street, commonly known as the Gravestons building or The Frame Workshop, had been granted a non-notified resource consent to demolish the building.

The approval was given under the Resource Management Act by a commissioner, with a recommendation to allow the demolition from the Christchurch City Council reporting officer.

The council said the building had been assessed as unsafe by two structural engineers, with one report concluding the building is "damaged beyond repair and it would not be an economic alternative to restore and strengthen the existing structure".

Although the building is listed in the council's city plan as a group 4 heritage building, it is not listed with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

- NZHERALD STAFF