The Gordon Wilson flats at 320 The Terrace, Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The Gordon Wilson flats at 320 The Terrace, Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Demolition work on a prominent historic building dubbed an “eyesore” will begin this month.
The central Wellington Gordon Wilson Flats were stripped of their heritage status after a move by RMA and Housing Minister Chris Bishop in June.
Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington has today confirmed it hasfound a contractor and will soon demolish the late 1950s building to make way for student accommodation.
“We’ve considered all options and unfortunately, restoration is not financially viable. The structures suffer from extensive rot, asbestos, seismic issues, and other critical problems that make restoration too costly,” vice chancellor Nic Smith said.
“The buildings are earthquake-prone and dangerous. They have deteriorated over the last decade and present a serious risk to our community.”
The fate of the building, which was a Category 1 historic place, has been a point of contention in the capital since tenants were forced out in 2012.
It has sat derelict at 320 The Terrace ever since, with heritage advocates calling for its restoration while others advocated for demolition and new development.
Bishop, who has previously labelled the building an “eyesore” and “ugly scar” on the city’s skyline, said in June the amendment would remove the flats’ protected heritage status and would make its demolition a permitted activity under the RMA, allowing demolition without a resource consent.
Built in 1959 and designed by Government architect Gordon Wilson, the building is seen as a symbol of early social housing in New Zealand.
In 2012, tenants were evicted after an engineer’s report deemed it unsafe in the event of an earthquake or strong winds. It has remained vacant since and fallen into disrepair.
It was then purchased by the university, which wanted to develop the site by building a multimillion-dollar gateway to the campus above, Te Huanui, made up of “world-class teaching and research facilities surrounded by lively civic spaces”.
The Gordon Wilson Flats in 1978. Photo / NZ Architect
Its heritage status meant it could not be demolished.
The university’s chief operating officer, Tina Wakefield, said the work is anticipated to begin later this month.
“Ensuring the safety of our community is our highest priority through this phase of the project. There is significant work ahead to ensure that the demolition will be carried out with the utmost care, beginning with site preparation work in the coming weeks,” Wakefield said.
Wakefield said the university is mindful of the impact and disruption demolition may cause, and it is committed to keeping neighbours informed throughout the process.
Ethan Manera is a Wellington-based journalist covering Wellington issues, local politics and business in the capital. He can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz.
