Leumas
Sep 19, 06, 3:32 pm
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3802746a11,00.html
It seems like the Wellington Hilton will go ahead, but I suspect completion date will be around 2010... A loooonng time away, but should be before the Rugby World Cup (if they have any sense).
Anyway, what are your thoughts? The idea of having a Hilton in Wellington? The location? Based on the location, it seems to be similar to the Auckland Hilton concept (waterfront, in the harbour)... The Auckland Hilton seems to have a love-it-or-hate-it reputation. Some people love it, some people hate it. I hope they take a fresh approach and not just copy what the Jafas have. :)
Personally, I'm glad they're finally doing something to that area, it's such good real estate and they use it for indoor netball and indoor soccer at the moment. Such a waste... I'm also glad Wellington is finally getting some brand name hotels rather than just the IC at the moment. (We're getting a Holiday Inn this summer too, but that's not a hotel, that's an inn.) :)
However, access can be a problem. The failure of the Queen's Wharf shopping centre is one example. Yes, it's easily walkable from Lambton Quay, but no one wants to walk there when it's cold, wet and windy. They'll also need to build proper road access to the site, there's no proper road going there at the moment.
The article mentioned they'll be building a tunnel to the existing underground carpark, but the carpark is still on the harbour side of Jervois Quay. IMHO, we need a way to connect to the Lambton Quay/Featherston Street side, otherwise, only people staying at the Hilton will hang around there and Wellington will miss a perfect opportunity to realise its full potential.
It seems like the Wellington Hilton will go ahead, but I suspect completion date will be around 2010... A loooonng time away, but should be before the Rugby World Cup (if they have any sense).
Anyway, what are your thoughts? The idea of having a Hilton in Wellington? The location? Based on the location, it seems to be similar to the Auckland Hilton concept (waterfront, in the harbour)... The Auckland Hilton seems to have a love-it-or-hate-it reputation. Some people love it, some people hate it. I hope they take a fresh approach and not just copy what the Jafas have. :)
Personally, I'm glad they're finally doing something to that area, it's such good real estate and they use it for indoor netball and indoor soccer at the moment. Such a waste... I'm also glad Wellington is finally getting some brand name hotels rather than just the IC at the moment. (We're getting a Holiday Inn this summer too, but that's not a hotel, that's an inn.) :)
However, access can be a problem. The failure of the Queen's Wharf shopping centre is one example. Yes, it's easily walkable from Lambton Quay, but no one wants to walk there when it's cold, wet and windy. They'll also need to build proper road access to the site, there's no proper road going there at the moment.
The article mentioned they'll be building a tunnel to the existing underground carpark, but the carpark is still on the harbour side of Jervois Quay. IMHO, we need a way to connect to the Lambton Quay/Featherston Street side, otherwise, only people staying at the Hilton will hang around there and Wellington will miss a perfect opportunity to realise its full potential.