Is the rebuild an excuse to demolish Christchurch's historic buildings?

Is the rebuild an excuse to demolish   

Christchurch's historic buildings?

Did you know that the owners of the Public Trust building have applied to the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) for a section 38 notice that would allow them to demolish the building? And CERA is considering a request for a section 38 notice on the historic Bishopscourt building and chapel within the Bishopspark Retirement Village in Park Tce? These are only a few examples of historic buildings having applications for demolition in the central city. What i want to know is - are the owners of Christchurch historic buildings using the re-build as an excuse to demolish these buildings?

It is important to keep most of our historic buildings because they are important to people. You may not care that a complete stranger has sentimental connection to a rundown brick building in the city center, but I do!. Imagine if the house your family lived in for generations was demolished and replaced by something like a dairy. How would you feel? I think that more people need to know about the history of buildings like the Woods Mill or the Addington Prison. These buildings have been in Christchurch since the early 1900s, and are an important piece of Christchurch’s history.

Rebuilding Christchurch should be done by those who truly acknowledge the identity and memory of the city in a complete, honest and tangible way. The Public Trust building is a group-3 protected heritage site in the Christchurch City Plan. It is owned by businessman Ben Gough’s company, Tailorspace Investments Ltd. Engineers engaged by CERA found the building to be repairable. Rebuilding Christchurch doesn't need to be done by demolishing every building and starting again, you can repair and re-develop. Look at the loft developments in New York or the Waterfront developments in San Francisco and Sydney. People are drawn to places like that. They are fabulous assets to enjoy.

Is a new “City of the Future” going to become a reality for Christchurch? Shops, restaurants, bars and cafes are expected to line the picturesque Avon’s edge, as well as sports stadiums in a push to make the revitalized city “very much like Melbourne”, according to Prime Minister John Key.

Therefore this is why I think it is not reasonable to completely demolish Christchurch and its Historic buildings. Demolition not only leaves an empty site, it jeopardizes the memory the public has of these landmarks.