Council decides to sell Sallies and Belvedere Hall

Carterton District Council [CDC] has agreed to sell the weather-damaged Salvation Army building and Belvedere Hall.

The council unanimously decided to sell the two buildings at Wednesday’s Council meeting, having consulted with the community in June.

CDC community service manager Glenda Seville said 29 Holloway St – rented to the Salvation Army Family Store and No. 23 Art Gallery – would need expensive repairs if the council did not sell it.

In November last year, extreme weather caused severe damage, including flooding through the roof, walls, and light sockets, damaging the office, hallway, and carpets.

It would cost $184,000 in repairs to make it watertight again.

“This work is not budgeted for and, if undertaken, will impact rates,” Seville said.

Salvation Army national family store manager Gareth Marshall said Salvation Army will now consider its next steps in Carterton.

“We will be taking some time to work through what this means for us,” Marshall said.

“In the meantime, we have a commitment to serve this community, and we will look for ways to continue to do this.”

CDC also revoked the reserve status of Belvedere Hall at 583 Belvedere Rd, with the intention to sell the building and the land.

Seville said the building is no longer fit for purpose, has no heritage value, and needs a substantial upgrade.

She noted that other suitable meeting facilities are available nearby at West Taratahi and Carterton.

Belvedere Hall was originally built as a school in the 1880s.

There were attempts to close it due to declining usage and limited funds in 2014 and 2015 before the society that ran it ceased operations in 2022.