Known affectionately and locally as the Lions Den, the more correctly titled transitional St Albans Community Centre will be opened on Wednesday by Lions International Foundation Chairman Wing-Kun Tam and Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker.
The building, purchased ready-built from a North Canterbury farmer, has been placed on new piles at 1047-1049 Colombo Street on the site of the old centre, which was demolished a year ago following earthquake damage in September 2010, February and June 2011.
The building is being provided by Lions International from funds raised following the devastating earthquakes that hit Christchurch. The Christchurch City Council is responsible for looking after the transitional facility.
The building is much smaller than the previous centre and the idea is that it will remain on the site for a few years until a decision is made about a permanent centre. Given that the council has about 1600 buildings that need repairing, replacing or demolishing, a more permanent centre is likely to be a few years away.
The Council had been going through the consultation process for an additional building for an enlarged site in August 2010 a week before the earthquake damaged the building beyond repair and relegated that plan to history.
Some more work is due on the interior of the transitional building before the centre can be used. Community groups will be able to hire the rooms at the centre at a reasonable cost by contacting Claire Philipps in the Papanui Service centre.
