|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Oct 29, 2011 14:51:55 GMT 12
It turned out to be a nice day here in Christchurch after some early morning low cloud and drizzle. So I decided to head in to town to check out the opening of the new/temporary retail area in the Cashel Mall.  The new bus exchange area, that runs from Lichfield Street through to Tuam Street.  Directly opposite is the rear entrance to Ballantynes.  The south west corner of the mall that now has parking spaces for $1.00 per hour. It was formerly the site of the DTZ building.  From this side you can see a bit of the damage to the Bridge of Remembrance.  Looking west towards the Bridge of Rememberance. Cranes are another common sight on the CBD skyline these days, and no doubt will be in the future.  I don't remember the trees being so tall, a factor of having been away from the city centre for the past 8 months or so I guess.  The 'Restart' mall is quite colourful.  Official duties over, the PM was out pressing the flesh.    People out enjoying the day after the official opening. |
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 29, 2011 15:59:24 GMT 12
Great to see Ken. I am amazed by two things, one is to see there are actually still some original shops standing there as I had heard the entire block was knocked down. And the other is i noticed on Campbell Live last night how perfect the ground looked, the paving and the tram tracks etc all looked original, not repaired. It's incredible if the ground didn't buckle abd crack but the buildings did. I mean if that was all a repair just for this temporary mall why lay the tracks? So it must be original, right?
I didn't realise that the iconic Ballantynes building had also gone, I think it had survived.
The Grand Chancellor is still standing. I would have thought it would be blown up or ripped down. Are they now hoping to repair it?
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 29, 2011 16:43:48 GMT 12
Here is a photo I took in July 2009 of the newly laid track in Cashel Mall. did they ever get a chance to run the trams over that track?  Yes, the trees were fairly tall back then too, but they don't seem so prominent, do they? |
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Oct 29, 2011 19:22:11 GMT 12
Hi Dave, the rear part of Ballantynes is new, the original building pre-quake is still there. If you look at the photo where I comment about the height of the trees the Ballantynes building is there in the distance in behind the tree.
The Hotel Grand Chancellor is coming down bit by bit as it is being 'deconstructed'. Other buildings to go I believe will be the Lichfield St Car Park Building, the Westpac/Canterbury Centre and the Price Waterhouse Building.
As far as I know the tram tracks are the originals, not sure if they ran trams over them prior to the September earthquake. I believe that they laid down some kind of earth/hardfill covering over the tracks and tiles to protect them from the bulldozers and heavy trucks operating in the area during the demolition works.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 29, 2011 20:57:25 GMT 12
Good to hear that Ballantynes is still there, it is something of a landmark for the city. I seldom ever went in there when I lived there but I know a lot of the older generation particularly relied on it.
I never liked that Westpac tower much, and carpark buildings are eye sores at the best of times, but that hotel will be missed on the skyline I reckon.
They obviously had good contractors laying the tracks and paving when they put in the tramline, it held up remarkably.
It's sad to hear yesterday the Anglican Church people announce they will now demolish part of the Cathedral and it won't be rebuilt as it was before. They mentioned a new building that "looks to the future" will posibly be put up there. Sounds like another archetectural nightmare to me. They should rebuild the old design with modern standards I think. They've got the money to do it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Darren Masters on Oct 29, 2011 21:14:34 GMT 12
Nice pics from such a beautiful city  Thanks for sharing. Always had a soft spot for CHC. Nice to see things slowly getting back to normality. Looks like it was a beautiful day too |
|
|
|
Post by adzze on Oct 30, 2011 7:52:26 GMT 12
Great pics Obiwan. That tall tree looks stunning, and the spring growth is poignant for the occasion. It was good to see the temporary Ballantynes too because although the TV news has mentioned it they have only shown the converted shipping containers.
I notice the cop on the right had his/(her?) eye on you in the PM shot... ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by flyjoe180 on Oct 30, 2011 10:50:40 GMT 12
Great photos, good to see things getting back under way.
|
|
Thanks for sharing. Always had a soft spot for CHC. Nice to see things slowly getting back to normality. Looks like it was a beautiful day too 
