April 2017
Construction beginning on the East Frame Residential Anchor Project means there is physical work happening on all committed Crown-led projects in Central Christchurch.
Ōtākaro Limited Chief Executive Albert Brantley says the people of Christchurch expect progress and work beginning on these first homes shows this central city neighbourhood is genuinely happening.
“Ōtākaro was set up to accelerate delivery of Anchor Projects for the people of Christchurch and that is what we are doing. Since its establishment one year ago the Company has completed the Earthquake Memorial, got work underway on the East Frame public space, commenced earthworks on the Convention Centre and Metro Sports Facility sites and continued development of Te Papa Ōtākaro/Avon River Precinct and South Frame,” says Mr Brantley.
Ōtākaro and Fletcher Living have worked together on plans that will create a new community in the central city that offers homes in a range of styles and sizes.
Mr Brantley says the first 20 terraced homes are expected to be ready in May 2018, five months ahead of the original schedule.
“We did take more time to get the plans right before we started physical work. We have high expectations for the development of East Frame and Fletcher Living has risen to the challenges of getting the designs and the mixture of housing right,” says Mr Brantley.
The East Frame homes will flank the East Frame public space, a 660 metre linear park that runs through five blocks from Lichfield Street to the Margaret Mahy Family Playground.
“Work on the third largest public space in Christchurch is proceeding well and we expect to have it completed early next year. People can also see how Manchester Street is becoming a tree-lined boulevard. This eastern area is being progressively transformed,” says Mr Brantley.
Ōtākaro plans to transfer the next piece of land (Superlot 7 on the corner of Madras and Lichfield Streets) and Superlot 11 (between Worcester and Hereford Streets) to Fletcher Living around the middle of 2017 to continue residential construction. This will see around 200 homes in the East Frame constructed by the middle of 2019.