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QUEENSTOWN COUNCIL BUYS UP CBD PROPERTIES

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May, 2023

Queenstowns councils spent almost $4 million on two CBD
properties, one of which is destined to meet the wrecking ball.
Council media man Sam White says the council spent $2.2m on
Gilmore Lodge, a four-bedroom, four-bathroom, two-level
property on the corner of Henry and Shotover Streets in
December, 2021.
At the same time, it snapped up the neighbouring 80 square metre
property at 2B Shotover St home to The Bead Shop for the past
19 years for $1.77m.
White says the council purchased both for use by the K Huanui a
Thuna Alliance, members of which are Waka Kotahi and the
council, along with design and construction companies Beca, WSP,
Downer New Zealand and Fulton Hogan.
Gilmore Lodge had been owned, for many years, by CCS Disability
Action and used as a holiday home the charitys subsequently
purchased a replacement holiday home in Arrowtowns Patton
Place.
White says part of the sites needed for constructing the
intersection as part of the first stage of the arterial route.
Use of the building itself since then has not been practical due
to the on-site and adjacent construction work which has also
restricted access to the lodge.
Council has an option to use the site as either a residential
tenancy or development as part of the [Project] Manawa site once
the intersection has been completed.
The Bead Shop owner Lee Eliott, however, is looking to sell her
business of 23 years after being on a month-by-month lease ever
since council bought the building, and ongoing uncertainty as to
how long shell be able to stay there.
White says theyre proposing to use the site to access an interim
carpark, till its required for the main construction of Project
Manawa, a proposed cultural and civic heart on Stanley St.
Queenstown Playcentre, at 57 Stanley Street, is also earmarked
for demolition to make way for Project Manawa.
When asked if there are any other properties in that area of Henry
or Shotover St Queenstowns council owns, or is looking to
purchase, with a view to bowling them, White says it already owns
a couple of apartments on Ballarat St which have been
impacted by the construction of the arterial road.
These could either be let as residential properties, or sold once
the arterial project is complete.

Source: Mountain Scene