OPTION 1 · CIVIC HOUSE

Redevelop Civic House

Civic House, Savings Bank & State Advances · Trafalgar Street & Halifax Street

Upfront cost
$73.3M
Long-term cost
$41.8M
Build time
41–63 months
Approach
Refurbish + new build

This option fixes up the current Civic House and rebuilds the Savings Bank site next door as a new three-level library and community hub, taking in the old State Advances Building as well. The library and community hub would spread over two and a half floors, with council offices and the Chambers on the floors above. Together, the buildings would provide about 7,755 square metres of floor space on 2,454 square metres of land.

The Council already owns the Civic House site. It would buy the State Advances Building. It is intended that the Elma Turner Library site would be sold.

Building work would take about 41 months if staff move out fully. If staff stay on site and move around in stages, it could take 63 months. That would be more disruptive, expensive, and slow down services.

OPTION 1 · CIVIC HOUSE

Cost summary and trade-offs

Cost breakdown
Land purchase, design and construction$73.7M
Moving staff during building work$4.6M
Sale of Elma Turner Library site–$5.0M*
Total upfront cost$73.3M
Long-term cost$41.8M

* Estimate.

Would the Council own the land?

Yes. The Council already owns the Civic House site. It would buy the State Advances Building.

How long to build

41 months if staff move out, or 63 months if staff stay and move around in stages (this costs more).

What this means for your rates

About $24 a year extra in the peak year, on top of the Long Term Plan 2024–2034 budget (see “Understanding the costs” for what ‘extra’ means). This is for an average residential land value of $405,000.

Pros +
  • Lowest upfront cost ($73.3M) and lowest long-term cost ($41.8M) of all options
  • The Council already owns the main Civic House site
  • Keeps civic life on Trafalgar Street, the city's civic heart
  • Car parking nearby at Wakatū Square, about 100m away
  • Very close to the Nelson Bus Hub at Millers Acre, with good walking and cycling links
  • Largest floor area of the three options
  • Civic House stays in public ownership, a high profile, well known location that maintains continuity of identity
Cons –
  • Mixes a refurbish with a new build, which adds complexity and uncertainty
  • Staff will need to move out during the work; staying on site adds about two years
  • The old building limits the design: low ceilings, tight columns and a fixed layout
  • Old buildings can hide problems that add cost once work starts; lowest cost but highest cost risk
  • Harder to meet modern energy and sustainability standards than a full new build
  • The library and hub spaces cannot fully match a new build
  • The site is in a high flood and liquefaction risk zone
  • Civic House would not be freed up for housing redevelopment in the city centre
  • The library and hub would spread over two and a half floors and several buildings
  • No room for extra outdoor public space
  • Nowhere obvious for staff to work from during the build
  • State Advances is a heritage building, so its front would need to be kept in the new build
  • State Advances would need to be bought to get enough space