Exterminate, exterminate

Stuff reports:

The battle to demolish one of Wellington’s most visible buildings continues, with the university trying to remove heritage protection from the Gordon Wilson Flats.

For years, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington has been trying to demolish the flats and construct Te Huanui, a new – section of the university campus with teaching and research facilities.

There’s one major obstacle: the flats are on the Wellington City Council’s heritage list, meaning the university needs a resource consent to knock them down.

This year independent commissioners will hear submissions on the council’s proposed district plan and one submission is from the university, asking the council to remove the heritage listing.

They are an ugly eyesore with no redeeming features and the block should be demolished by way of a low level nuke.

Councillor Iona Pannett – well-known for her support of heritage and character protections – said the building should be restored.

“I know a lot of people find it ugly, but heritage doesn’t have to be pretty to deserve its status,” she said.

She flatted in the building for a brief period and believed “it would go for so much money” if it was properly done up. The rooms were big and sunny, and featured a unique “maisonette” structure where the apartments are two storeys.

If Iona is right, then she should set up a consortium to buy the building, renovate it and make so much money from it.