The creation of a targeted rate for improving Timaru's CBD is a step closer with councillors voting to include consultation for a Business Improvement District in this year’s Long Term Plan.
The creation of a targeted rate for improving Timaru's CBD is a step closer with councillors voting to include consultation for a Business Improvement District in this year’s Long Term Plan.
JOHN BISSET/Stuff
Buildings on Stafford St owned by the Timaru District Council from the Theatre Royal, left, to the property containing the Royal Garden Chinese Restaurant.
The Timaru District Council has extended its property holdings along Stafford St with the $440,000 purchase of the building containing the Royal Garden Restaurant. The purchase of 134-138 Stafford St is in line with council’s moves to create a Heritage Precinct as it begins a multi-million dollar upgrade of the Theatre Royal that will also see the South Canterbury Museum relocated to the area. Council now owns a sizeable proportion of the lower end of Stafford St but at this stage has no definitive plans for the site, with group manager for commercial and strategy, Donna Cross, saying “there are a number of options for the property .
JOHN BISSET/Stuff
Checking out the inside of the Theatre Royal before discommissioning work for a multi-million-dollar upgrade begins are Timaru District Council s property admin officer Davina Robinson, communications advisor Elizabeth Mullan and Nicole Timney, manager of property services and client lead.
Work on the multi-million-dollar upgrade to Timaru s Theatre Royal has begun with physical work on the interior. The Stafford St theatre, a Category 2 Heritage building, needs significant work to bring it up to standard and has been closed since November 2019. Timaru District Council group manager for commercial and strategy Donna Cross said planning, procurement, consultation and interim design work has been underway for some time, while physical works focusing on the interior of the building are now underway.