By Hamish Clark
Retailers in Christchurch’s upmarket Merivale Mall remain in the dark about how badly damaged their shopping centre may be and when, if ever, they will be allowed back in.
The mall was closed abruptly over the weekend and comes as demolition work on other buildings in the city is in full swing, almost a year since last February’s deadly earthquake.
The mall is normally a bustling upmarket shopping destination yet today shoppers were hard to find.
Inside, Walter Scott’s menswear shop is open but with a wire fence nearby and he is still none the wiser why the central portion has been closed off.
“There is a tenants meeting tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock and we will be briefed then as to what the latest is,” says Mr Scott.
However, late this afternoon mall management said the meeting was cancelled as they are still awaiting more information on the condition of the building.
Cera deconstruction manager Warwick Issacs says they have taken a prudent approach.
“We have got the advice and in light of the last year I think it is well we have taken the advice. Human safety of course, at the end of the day, is the most important thing.”
As more buildings are found to be unsafe others which are already condemned are coming down quickly.
The most urgent on the list is this apartment block overlooking Hagley Park.
Felicity Perkins is one of the last remaining residents left living in the neighbourhood.
“I think there are some on the end but that is coming down, Bishops Park is coming down, that burnt down the one next door. They are all uninhabited so we are pretty much it.”
There are fears the apartments buildings could come tumbling down in another shake.
“They have lost the vertical strength in the buildings and there is a high likely hood they could collapse in a very small seismic event,’ says Mr Warwick.
The diggers will move on in tomorrow morning, starting at the top and working their way back to take the weight off the building and hope that it does not come crashing down.
3 News