The heritage hotel at the centre of a demolition stand-off was moving by up to 5 millimetres an hour towards the street when the decision was made to knock it down, the Auckland Council said today. The 124-year-old Palace Hotel building in central Auckland was reduced to rubble following a council order in November last year to demolish it.

An Auckland Council commissioned report has found the Palace Hotel’s owners, John and Michael Chow, failed to ensure the building was being safely renovated. The Council is considering prosecuting the Chows following the report’s findings. Meanwhile a bill for more than $200,000 – the council’s costs arising from the building’s collapse – has been sent to the Chow Group.

Report by Susie Nordqvist http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10711133