The fate of Wellington’s distinctive, but dilapidated, band rotunda looks to be in doubt after a deal to restore the century-old structure fell through.
Wellington City Council is now in discussions with other developers about bringing the Oriental Bay site back to life, which has been closed to the public since 2012 due to earthquake safety concerns.
The heritage-protected landmark, perched on Oriental Bay overlooking the harbour, has been a band rotunda, beach pavilion and had restaurants come and go over the years.
Concrete at the band rotunda is rotting because of exposure to the sea and the building is estimated to meet only 20% of the earthquake code.
A deal with developer Maurice Clark, which would have granted him a 35-year lease at a minimal rate in exchange for restoring the building, has been “mutually terminated”.
Clark was looking for a tenant for the hospitality space and a funder to invest.
Councillor Nicola Young said she had “the worst Pimm’s of my life” at a restaurant there, but that the building was “a very special part of Wellington” that needed to be saved.
The councillor said she had spoken with Clark, a local developer, about the contract.
“He’s got a tenant, he’s got someone to fund the redevelopment. But the council has been difficult about the rates,” she said. “We should say we will forgo the rates for public good, because we’re getting this building back.”
Clark had already spent about $750,000 on work, but the final cost is expected to reach $6 million. The developer has now put a counter-offer to the council, and is hoping to get a longer lease to make the development economically viable.
A spokesperson for Wellington City Council said it was in talks with other parties, but any further details are commercially sensitive.
