It's been revealed the ownership of Wellington's derelict Amora Hotel, sitting on prime CBD land, has changed hands.
The owners of the building are now listed as Precinct Properties - the developers behind Auckland's Commercial Bay and Wellington's Willis Lane.
Wellington City Councillor John Apanowicz joined Nick Mills to talk through his hopes for the central city.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
At B Wellington City councilor John at Panovitch joins us
on the show.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Good morning, John, Good morning. That's how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
You know what, It's been a while since I felt
so excited. I've got to say that. When I read
the article and that quoted you, and You've got all
these great ideas and come up with the stuff and
telling us all these things, I thought to myself, how
good does it feel that we're talking suddenly about something
positive in Wellington?
Speaker 4 (00:37):
I mean, trying to make you even happier, Nick, Yes, please,
I'm a trustee of the Basin Reserve, so I knew
the schedule for the cricket itinery and really fascinating in
great for Wellington.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Right, how good? You know what? It's my favorite place
of Wellington, no question. I had the contract for selling
food and alcohol there for about ten years of my life,
and I tell you, I just love the Basin Reserve.
It's just the greatest spot in Wellington.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Yep, yep. And we can hopefully do some more things
as well, which I'm with normals and other people.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Good news. Tell us what's going on. I mean, firstly
with the More hotel, because that came from nowhere. No
one has been talking about it, no one's been thinking
about it. I've been rubbishing. I mean, I love El Arodi.
I think he's an amazing man. I've met him once
and I've talked to him a few times. He seems
like an incredible man with an incredible vision. But he's
annoyed the hell out of me by keeping that damn
(01:30):
hotel so grotty for so long.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Well I think so part of my real benefit being
on council or something I'm really pushing in a city regeneration.
So what I've tried to do outside of the reading
deal is focus on the buildings in Wellington and how
we can actually get them operating in both from the
(01:53):
council perspective and also from the major developers who are
in town. And e L's one of them, and he's
a great guy. Yep, he comes and sees us quite regularly.
So all I literally do is RS people, what are
you doing with these buildings? When is it going to
be developed? What's happening? And sometimes I'll give you a
bit of information, which is great and also I can
(02:14):
say how can we help you? The other other times
people just tell me stuff. So yep, with that one,
the big building smack in the middle of town that's
been sitting there since Rugby World Cups twenty eleven vacant.
Always go what's happening there? Who owns it and what's
the situation with it? So I didn't know about the
(02:36):
car park situation, and I know that's gone through the
consenting process, so that needs to be effected before the
main one. But just continuously going where are you at
with these projects and how are they going forward? So
literally across the road, Mark Willis, Willis Bond, what's happening
with Michael Fowlers in the carpet. We're going to start
building there, you know, I go and see I go
(02:59):
and see Charlie Cornerstone. What's happening with the Molly Vines building?
Were going to work that in the development, So all
the in a city building could have been left vacant.
I'm hoping we'll start within the next year to two
years to actually see them progress.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
So what do you think is going to go into
the Mora Hotel? Do you reckon it's going to be
another hotel. You've got any idea what they're planning there, I.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
No, I don't, and you know, ultimately, all I want
to see is that there is activity in the city.
These ones will will come through. You know, We've got
our own council buildings, you know, sitting vacant. We've got
the library coming on board, which will be great with
two levels of commercial space. We've got the town hall
eventually will be open, which is great. We've got the
(03:42):
site next to it which is being developed by Precincts,
so we working on that when we're specifically looking at
tenants who can come in there, some really high profile people.
So all that area within two to three years will
be completely changed.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
When is it going to start, John, Well.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
I mean some of it's already started. If you look
at some of the buildings, and I'll take our Cavin
Mob building, all the interior has been removed, so it's gone.
So that's continuously and that's that'll come down when I
really I feel for the businesses and the disruption it's
causing for them, but it does take a long time
(04:22):
for some of these projects to actually reach your presision.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
So you've got no idea what's going to happen with
there more a hotel. What do you think what you've
got going to tell you it's going to happen at Reading?
Who do you think Do you think precinct will have
a shot.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
It's a big site. It's a really big site, and
you know it's going to cost whoever buys it a
significant amount of millions. You know, we're probably looking at
fifty to sixty million to that site.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Is that just to buy the land? Is that just
the land?
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Well the Reading land the building was thirty two million.
The other three sites, which is all publicly available, is
between ten and fifteen each, so they're quite significant. It's
a really big chunk of land in the middle of Wellington.
And as I said to Aaron, whoever does development will
need actually a plan to start with, because you don't
(05:14):
want to buy land and then pay the council of
million dollars a year for the rates.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Will Will the council work with a developer and try
and do some of there or does that ship sale?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
I well, you know if someone approached the council, I
mean I'm sure we would look at that, you know
we do. I mean the men set up to business groups,
so we actively look at things from a business perspectives.
Someone came to us and said, look, we want to
do something. Who knows. I've always been very olden that
you know, Council should be an enabler for business in Wellington. Absolutely,
(05:53):
and whether that's development or assistance in some other way
that you know, we can we can have these discussions.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
What's Charlie telling you about Molly Malones because he's not
done anything there for a long time?
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Is it he? I had? Ironically because the Council Property
team deal quite a lot with all these developers. So
we bumped into him a few weeks back and he said,
it's number two on his list? How do we get
(06:24):
that to number one? So yeah, he does have some
specific items that he wants to a specific plan he
wants to deal with that site, but it's not number
one on the list yet. So next time I see him,
I will ask you and it's going to be number one.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
John. I haven't had a chance to speak to you before,
but it's really nice to talk to you and I
appreciate you taking our call. What's your what is your
own initial thoughts about the Golden Mine and when it
starts and Court in your place and what it's going
to do to those businesses.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yeah, that's a that's a real hard one that I mean,
it does need work. Ultimately, what we would like is.
Speaker 5 (06:58):
To have the the film Prayer premier is coming back
into our and that's that whole site as crucial to
that potentially in December twenty five, So we need to
do something there.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
The discussions we currently have, and it's been an item
with the business group, is how do we minimize the impact. Also,
Jeremy Smith set up his group through there as well,
which feeds into council. So ultimately, you know, we are
looking at ways to give give a bit of vibrancy
(07:34):
in there as well as reduced the impact there. So
the discussion we're talking around as opposed to this long,
lengthy process of development is whether we can speed it
up quickly and have shorter, shorter pain period. And I
do feel, I do feel for the businesses through the exodus.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
John lovely to talk to you. I appreciate you taking
our core. As I said, really good to talk to you.
Will we'll talk. We've got your number now, so we'll
talk again.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Number.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
We've got your number, You've got our number. Eight hundred
dead eight. We've got your number.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
I do cool. I do cool sometimes not as much
as Ray, but you know.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Your brother Ray. Thank you very much, John O'tennervid. What
a great guy. It wasn't a nice to actually talk
to him.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news talks It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
At B Wellington City councilor John at Panovitch joins us
on the show.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Good morning, John, Good morning. That's how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
You know what, It's been a while since I felt
so excited. I've got to say that. When I read
the article and that quoted you, and You've got all
these great ideas and come up with the stuff and
telling us all these things, I thought to myself, how
good does it feel that we're talking suddenly about something
positive in Wellington?
Speaker 4 (00:37):
I mean, trying to make you even happier, Nick, Yes, please,
I'm a trustee of the Basin Reserve, so I knew
the schedule for the cricket itinery and really fascinating in
great for Wellington.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Right, how good? You know what? It's my favorite place
of Wellington, no question. I had the contract for selling
food and alcohol there for about ten years of my life,
and I tell you, I just love the Basin Reserve.
It's just the greatest spot in Wellington.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Yep, yep. And we can hopefully do some more things
as well, which I'm with normals and other people.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Good news. Tell us what's going on. I mean, firstly
with the More hotel, because that came from nowhere. No
one has been talking about it, no one's been thinking
about it. I've been rubbishing. I mean, I love El Arodi.
I think he's an amazing man. I've met him once
and I've talked to him a few times. He seems
like an incredible man with an incredible vision. But he's
annoyed the hell out of me by keeping that damn
(01:30):
hotel so grotty for so long.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Well I think so part of my real benefit being
on council or something I'm really pushing in a city regeneration.
So what I've tried to do outside of the reading
deal is focus on the buildings in Wellington and how
we can actually get them operating in both from the
(01:53):
council perspective and also from the major developers who are
in town. And e L's one of them, and he's
a great guy. Yep, he comes and sees us quite regularly.
So all I literally do is RS people, what are
you doing with these buildings? When is it going to
be developed? What's happening? And sometimes I'll give you a
bit of information, which is great and also I can
(02:14):
say how can we help you? The other other times
people just tell me stuff. So yep, with that one,
the big building smack in the middle of town that's
been sitting there since Rugby World Cups twenty eleven vacant.
Always go what's happening there? Who owns it and what's
the situation with it? So I didn't know about the
(02:36):
car park situation, and I know that's gone through the
consenting process, so that needs to be effected before the
main one. But just continuously going where are you at
with these projects and how are they going forward? So
literally across the road, Mark Willis, Willis Bond, what's happening
with Michael Fowlers in the carpet. We're going to start
building there, you know, I go and see I go
(02:59):
and see Charlie Cornerstone. What's happening with the Molly Vines building?
Were going to work that in the development, So all
the in a city building could have been left vacant.
I'm hoping we'll start within the next year to two
years to actually see them progress.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
So what do you think is going to go into
the Mora Hotel? Do you reckon it's going to be
another hotel. You've got any idea what they're planning there, I.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
No, I don't, and you know, ultimately, all I want
to see is that there is activity in the city.
These ones will will come through. You know, We've got
our own council buildings, you know, sitting vacant. We've got
the library coming on board, which will be great with
two levels of commercial space. We've got the town hall
eventually will be open, which is great. We've got the
(03:42):
site next to it which is being developed by Precincts,
so we working on that when we're specifically looking at
tenants who can come in there, some really high profile people.
So all that area within two to three years will
be completely changed.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
When is it going to start, John, Well.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
I mean some of it's already started. If you look
at some of the buildings, and I'll take our Cavin
Mob building, all the interior has been removed, so it's gone.
So that's continuously and that's that'll come down when I
really I feel for the businesses and the disruption it's
causing for them, but it does take a long time
(04:22):
for some of these projects to actually reach your presision.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
So you've got no idea what's going to happen with
there more a hotel. What do you think what you've
got going to tell you it's going to happen at Reading?
Who do you think Do you think precinct will have
a shot.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
It's a big site. It's a really big site, and
you know it's going to cost whoever buys it a
significant amount of millions. You know, we're probably looking at
fifty to sixty million to that site.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Is that just to buy the land? Is that just
the land?
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Well the Reading land the building was thirty two million.
The other three sites, which is all publicly available, is
between ten and fifteen each, so they're quite significant. It's
a really big chunk of land in the middle of Wellington.
And as I said to Aaron, whoever does development will
need actually a plan to start with, because you don't
(05:14):
want to buy land and then pay the council of
million dollars a year for the rates.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Will Will the council work with a developer and try
and do some of there or does that ship sale?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
I well, you know if someone approached the council, I
mean I'm sure we would look at that, you know
we do. I mean the men set up to business groups,
so we actively look at things from a business perspectives.
Someone came to us and said, look, we want to
do something. Who knows. I've always been very olden that
you know, Council should be an enabler for business in Wellington. Absolutely,
(05:53):
and whether that's development or assistance in some other way
that you know, we can we can have these discussions.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
What's Charlie telling you about Molly Malones because he's not
done anything there for a long time?
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Is it he? I had? Ironically because the Council Property
team deal quite a lot with all these developers. So
we bumped into him a few weeks back and he said,
it's number two on his list? How do we get
(06:24):
that to number one? So yeah, he does have some
specific items that he wants to a specific plan he
wants to deal with that site, but it's not number
one on the list yet. So next time I see him,
I will ask you and it's going to be number one.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
John. I haven't had a chance to speak to you before,
but it's really nice to talk to you and I
appreciate you taking our call. What's your what is your
own initial thoughts about the Golden Mine and when it
starts and Court in your place and what it's going
to do to those businesses.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yeah, that's a that's a real hard one that I mean,
it does need work. Ultimately, what we would like is.
Speaker 5 (06:58):
To have the the film Prayer premier is coming back
into our and that's that whole site as crucial to
that potentially in December twenty five, So we need to
do something there.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
The discussions we currently have, and it's been an item
with the business group, is how do we minimize the impact. Also,
Jeremy Smith set up his group through there as well,
which feeds into council. So ultimately, you know, we are
looking at ways to give give a bit of vibrancy
(07:34):
in there as well as reduced the impact there. So
the discussion we're talking around as opposed to this long,
lengthy process of development is whether we can speed it
up quickly and have shorter, shorter pain period. And I
do feel, I do feel for the businesses through the exodus.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
John lovely to talk to you. I appreciate you taking
our core. As I said, really good to talk to you.
Will we'll talk. We've got your number now, so we'll
talk again.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Number.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
We've got your number, You've got our number. Eight hundred
dead eight. We've got your number.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
I do cool. I do cool sometimes not as much
as Ray, but you know.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Your brother Ray. Thank you very much, John O'tennervid. What
a great guy. It wasn't a nice to actually talk
to him.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news talks It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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