The Dux in Rehab; Has Mayor Mauger Kept His 2022 Promise to The City
In light of new information, the NZR assesses whether Mayor Phil Mauger has kept his word to go to the people before deciding on funding the Dux revamp.
At the height of the hotly contested 2022 mayoral campaign, Mayor Phil Mauger promised to work hard to see the Dux de Lux restored and to consult with the city before any decisions on funding were made.
Pictured: Bruce Rendall, the council’s City Growth and Development Head.
Mauger’s promise came on the back of a proposal made by developers Sean Stockman, James Stewart and Tim Weston to take out a 50-year lease of the Dux rent-free. But the deal fell flat, when in August that year, the Arts Centre Board rejected the proposal. Arts Centre Director Philip Aldridge, today, confirmed to the NZR, that that deal would not be revived.
The Box 112-led refurbishment of the council-owned Municipal Chambers.
After the decree was made public, Mauger criticised the board’s decision.
“It’s not for me to tell the Arts Centre Trust Board how to do their job, but on the face of it rejecting the 50-year lease offer from Redux looks like a short-sighted decision, however I am not privy to all the details.”
Click here to read Mauger’s promise.
The Dux de Lux
“The group behind the lease offer are incredibly competent people with a proven track record in our city,” said Mauger.
“I have learnt more about the proposal from Redux today. If elected Mayor, I would be very keen to work with the Trust Board and Redux to get the building restored and bring the Dux de Lux back to Christchurch.”
Mauger’s confidence appeared to be based on his assessment the Box 112 revamp of the old Municipal Chambers on Oxford Terrace and Worcester Street.
Speaking to Redux developer James Stewart negotiations with the council had gone nowhere and Arts Centre Director Philip Aldridge has indicted the deal is unworkable.
Pictured: The old Municipal Chambers
Mauger’s promise came with a significant caveat.
“We must get input from our community before any decision is made. Our community must always have a say in deciding Council's spending priorities and commitments, after all it is ratepayers' money we are spending.”
So, did Mauger keep his promise to go to the people over any decision to spend council money on the redevelopment?
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