More than 20 retailers and commercial tenants had to leave the Morrison Square shopping complex last year after engineering assessments identified problems with the building’s cladding system, leading to its planned demolition. Now it is poised for redevelopment into a vibrant retail and hospitality precinct.
The site, originally known as Fashion Island, was acquired by ACC in 2008 for $22.7 million.
It was announced in May that Scott Construction had acquired the site and had plans to redevelop it.
The project is being led by Morrison Square Development Co., and one of its directors, Justin Candish, described it as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to contribute to the revitalisation of central Nelson.
“It would have been devastating for the city to see this prime city location as a gravel car park for 10 years or so,” Candish said.
“Instead, our vision is to create a cornerstone city destination to help take Nelson city into the future.”
The company collaborated with Irving Smith Architects, Arthouse Architects, and the landscape architecture firm Meadow to design a multi-use precinct named MORRISON.
This development features retail, hospitality, office spaces, and boutique accommodation centred around a piazza.
They had considered including apartments but chose to focus on serving both locals and visitors, proposing a boutique hotel on the eastern side of the precinct, Candish explained.
“We have seen how boutique hotels have made a difference to cities, attracting a particular type of traveller. We are still at the feasibility stage, but our assessment so far is that it would be a great addition to the heart of the CBD,” Candish said.
“The concept is for it to be quite different to the other accommodation offerings in Nelson, and as we are not planning extensive hospitality and retail within the hotel, guests will be encouraged to shop and eat elsewhere,” he added.
The goal was to attract new brands, businesses, and people to the city, with an estimated 300 jobs expected to be created within the precinct.
Construction work is scheduled to begin before Christmas this year, with the entire development expected to be completed within two years.