What happened to: SOL Square

I miss SOL Square. My fond memories of it look something like this:

Unfortunately, now it looks something like this (Image from stuff.co.nz):

What a great place it was to have a drink in town at night. The connected brick buildings all had great character and there was such a good choice of bars, unless you had a regular favourite, it was tough to decide where to get a drink!

Word has been going around that it will soon be back. According to a press article here, it seems redevelopment of SOL Square has stalled as David Henderson’s company Tuam Venture is in receivership. So what has happened to it? Well it seems not much. At this stage, it is still a rubble of broken buildings and bricks. Some remnants remain like the mini car on the wall but most is now gone.

What are your memories of SOL Square? Are you keen to see it back or do you think it was just full of students and drunks?