Council buy up for culture precinct

Hastings District Council has paid $8.5 million for two inner-city buildings with the intention of expanding the city’s arts and culture precinct. The council revealed yesterday it had paid $7.5m for the property occupied by CityFitness Gym at 340 Heretaunga St East, opposite the recently refurbished Toitoi Municipal Building. But it won’t be coming into council hands soon – CityFitness has a lease with 12 years to run. This building is alongside the site earmarked to be developed into the Hawke’s Bay Collection, Storage, Research and Archive Centre. The council also paid $1m for the former church at 305 Heretaunga St East that adjoins the Municipal Building. Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the purchases were a strategic decision to help achieve a vision of expanding an arts precinct. When the community was consulted on the future of the Opera House, Plaza and Municipal Building in 2016, the feedback led to a vision for these buildings and surrounding area to become an arts precinct, catering for a range of activities, from music and dance to theatre and food, Hazlehurst said. ‘‘Our council’s long-term aspirations for this area of the city are for it to be an arts and culture hub, driving increased vibrancy and vitality in our city,’’ she said.