Crossways Sale

Media Statement for Immediate Release

Crossways Sale

St Andrew’s on the Terrace Presbyterian Church has announced the sale of
Crossways Community House. The Church has entered into an unconditional
sales contract with a private purchaser for the sum of $1.31 million. The
buyers are local residents who plan to restore the house as a family home.

The parish regrets that the bid by the Crossways Community Trust was
unsuccessful. The Church took full consideration of the Trust’s offer and
its intended use for the house but unfortunately their offer was
substantially less than the sale price.

“We admire their dedication and recognise that they will be disappointed,”
says St Andrew’s Minister, Margaret Mayman.

“St Andrew’s supported the Crossways Community Trust for over a year to give
them time to raise funds to buy the building. While the Church had agreed
to a delay in sale, we were not able to provide the major subsidy that the
Trust requested when they made their offer,” she said.

St Andrew’s made the decision to sell Crossways in order to restore its
historic church on The Terrace which was an earthquake risk. The roof was
leaking badly which caused extensive plaster deterioration in the interior.
The exterior was cracked and large chunks of concrete had broken off the
tower. The community facilities behind the church are still in need of
rebuilding and repair. The total cost of the project is $4 million.

A one-year delay of sale for Crossways was agreed to with the support of the
City Council to allow the Community Trust to fundraise to buy the house. The
Church borrowed funds to enable it to proceed with the urgent restoration
work on the church, which is now almost complete. The cost of the
restoration to date is $1.5 million and the funds borrowed for the work must
be repaid in full in October. By agreeing to the delay in selling the House,
the Church has without doubt incurred financial loss in what is now a much
weaker housing market.

Wellington City Council officers are working with the groups presently
using Crossways, including the crèche, to assist them to relocate to
alternative venues. They will be able to use the house until the sale is
finalised on 9 October.

ends

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