By Matthew Hutching
Auckland's iconic music venue, The Kings Arms Tavern, could under threat of being demolished and turned into apartments by 2019.
The property has been designated as a special housing area in the latest announcement from Auckland Mayor Len Brown and Building and Housing Minister Nick Smith.
The live music venue and bar, on France St, is part of the special housing area named the Newton Cluster.
Auckland Council's website says: "The development at 59 France Street South is for approximately 60 new apartments over 3 years. The affordable homes within the development will be priced at between $450,000 and $675,000."
It says the intention is for the entire development to be completed by 2019.
An online petition has been launched to keep the venue from being demolished.
However, Public Address editor and Auckland journalist Russell Brown says the Kings Arms Tavern's age makes it protected by a pre-1944 "demolition overlay".
"So it will be the subject of a resource consent application which the council may approve or decline," he says.
"The building itself may be preserved in some form, but I don’t think that its current status as a music venue can be protected if that’s not what the owners want to do with their property."
On the petition page, organisers describe the Kings Arms as the centre of the Auckland music scene.
"Musicians hang out there all the time. A lot of fantastic bands have played there and international acts have too," the page says.
"It's heart-breaking to think this will be all gone and will have a massive blow in the scene. We must save it. We got to do something!"
The Kings Arms has seen a multitude of well-loved local and international artists. The White Stripes played there before they became famous, and New Zealand's best bands have all been onstage there at least once.
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