DEMOLITION TIME

Demolition work on a long-standing Rotorua eyesore has begun.
The site of the former central city multiplex will be transformed into a carpark for a 75-apartment complex.
The owners of the building on Pukuatua St, which has stood derelict for more than 15 years, were granted consent to demolish part of the site for redevelopment last year.
Watts & Hughes, which is managing the project, could not be reached for comment but site manager Shane Williams, of Ward Demolition, said last week he hoped work would start in a week and by yesterday part of the building had been demolished.
The multiplex was built in 1993 but was open for only a few weeks before building sub-contractors forced its closure, claiming they were owed almost $3 million.
The derelict building has been the site of a suspicious death, in July 2007, and arson attacks.
LJ Hooker Rotorua marketing director Annelise Baird said the site would be used for a carpark on the first floor of the Royal Court Apartments complex, being developed by Auckland-based company Golden Mile Holdings Group.
Ms Baird said demolition should take about six weeks.
The apartments were due to be completed by the end of this year but would be delayed because of tenders and getting resource consent to add a fifth floor, she said.
Golden Mile Holdings Group director Jackie Kwokcrt expected the complex would be finished by the end of next May.
Ms Baird said some apartments had been sold although the developer did not want to reveal how many.
There had been a lot of interest in both the apartments and the 35 retail sites planned for the ground level although none of those had yet been sold.
"The focus has been the apartments ... People are just waiting for the project to go ahead."
Ms Baird said the project was not reliant on the sale of the apartments, the cost of which ranged between $192,000 and $292,000.
With rents also set to increase, she expected the apartments would be desirable for investors.
Rotorua's Amos Woottencrt, who manages neighbouring business Astray Motel & Backpackers, remembered watching Once Were Warriors at the multiplex. It closed down weeks later.
He said he'd had one guest who wouldn't stay at Astray because of "the eyesore next door" but it had not bothered most of his guests although he was glad the building was finally being demolished.
 
TIMELINE
* 1993 Multiplex cinema opens, closing a few weeks later with building sub-contractors owed money.
* Dec 2005 A man is jailed for 2 years after admitting setting fire to the building.
* July 2007 A man dies in the building.
* Aug 2007 Building purchased by Auckland's Golden Mile Holdings Group.
* July 2008 Plans for 75-apartment complex announced.
* September 2009 Rotorua District Council grants consent for demolition.