The Deputation included supplementary material of images taken from a Donovan Rypkema Workshop as well as copies of the:
“Older, Smaller, Better : Measuring how the character of buildings and blocks influences urban vitality” Study.
The following is the text of the Deputation.

Deputation to the

Christchurch City Council Communities Housing and Economic Development Committee.

7^th May 2015

 

Deputation by Mark Gerrard, Chair Historic Places Canterbury.

 

Councillors, Thank you for allowing me to make this Deputation.

 

1. Duncan’s Building: High Street.

Back ground: Councillors you may recall the Deputation from Nicky Arts, who co-owns a Shop which is part of the Duncan’s Building. (The C.C.C. Community Committee 15^th April 2014). I appeared as a Support for Nicky Arts in her Deputation. (Please find attached PDF of the text of the Press article reporting on the Deputation.)

Update: CERA/CCDU has removed the Designation on the Duncan’s Buildings shops they do not own. Laneways are designated by CERA for behind the Duncan’s Building.

 

Historic Places requests that this Committee arrange for updated briefing of Nicky Arts (and myself as Historic Places Canterbury Representative) on the progress of their interactions with CERA/CCDU.

 

 

2. Invitation to Hon Maggie Barry, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage.

Historic Places Canterbury requests this Committee invite the Hon Maggie Barry, the Minister of Arts Culture and Heritage to meet with Councillors to address the issues confronting the retention of Christchurch’s Heritage.

Historic Places Canterbury further requests that the C.C.C. organise and host a meeting of the Hon Maggie Barry inviting Christchurch’s Heritage Advocates to be present e.g. HPC, Christchurch Civic Trust, Christchurch Heritage Trust.

 

 

3. The Public Realm Network Plan.

HPC requests that this (CHED) Committee arrange for a Staff briefing on the Public Realm Network Plan for Heritage advocates and interested groups/individuals.

 

4. Donovan Rypkema visit to Christchurch hosted by the Christchurch Civic Trust and Historic Places Canterbury.

 

Donovan Rypkema an acknowledged expert in heritage economics was brought out to New Zealand for Council workshops and public presentations in Auckland and Wellington. The Christchurch Civic Trust approached the CCC for funding to bring him to Christchurch. ( He was in the city 2010 between earthquakes presenting workshops and lectures.) The CCC Staff declined funding to support his visit.

The Christchurch Civic Trust approached HPC and together we funded a day visit to Christchurch for Donovan Rypkema to view and be briefed the heritage aftereffects of the earthquakes and CERA/CCDU’s actions etc. The visit was very informative for those who were part of the Heritage Tour Party.

HPC considers the lack of support from the CCC Staff was a lost opportunity. Donovan Rypkema is an acknowledged expert in heritage economics knowledge and we are sure that a CCC hosted Rypkema workshops/ lectures would have been viewed by Territorial Authority Staff not only CCC but also throughout the South Island as an important event to attend.

 

5. “Older, Smaller, Better

Measuring how the character of buildings and blocks influences urban vitality”

(The National Trust For Historic Preservation Green Lab.)

A copy of the Executive Summary of the Study has been included with this Deputation.

This published Study is the result of statistical research conducted in Seattle, Washington and San Francisco.

Donovan Rypkema informed us, on his visit, of this cost benefit study that is most informative of the economic benefits of heritage and character buildings/districts.

A conclusion drawn from this Study is that supporting heritage is not a cost but has quantifiable economic benefits.

Historic Places Canterbury requests that this Committee and CCC Staff review this Study and incorporate its findings in the Councils Heritage, Economic Development, Planning and Urban Design policies.

Seattle is a sister City of Christchurch, Historic Places Canterbury requests that this Committee contact Seattle and ascertain if they are prepared to sponsor their Heritage Staff to run Heritage workshops incorporating this Study and related policy/findings for CCC Staff and that it be open to Staff from other South Island Territorial Authorities as well Heritage Professionals and Advocates.

 

Councillors, Thank you for listening to this Deputation.

Mark Gerrard
Chair Historic Places Canterbury
021 1575 043