Historic Demolition Derby Continues
The demolished Sydenham church A historic homestead on Bealey Ave post 22nd Feb was taken down this week
It's sad but a true fact that everything cannot be saved. This is especially awful when considering the lost lives of people due to the earthquake. If we could choose, who wouldn't choose to save people over buildings? That so many of the injured are young people and who, though no fault of their own, now lie in hospital with anxious families desperately hoping their loved ones will survive is horribly tragic. Shakespear himself couldn't imagine the terrible stories we now hear every day.
But while we're grieving what is happening to the buildings? They're being taken down so quickly, that it's adding to the shock of Cantabrians. Even in a few hours grand homesteads are being reduced to rubble. After learning that at least two buildings have been demolished without the owners being notified or allowed to rescue items from inside, we're concerned that the demolition derby is happening too quickly for the paperwork to be approved. This may not be the case and in fact it may all be happening with proper consent, but when some people don't have running water or electricity why is the demolition of our history being prioritised?
This house in Merivale had obvious damage, but looked relatively fine. We hope that the decision to remove it was made carefully and with consideration of the history about to be lost.