Invercargill CBD heritage buildings targeted for chop

Tuesday, 9 January 2018

HWCP Management Ltd would like these two heritage listed buildings on the corner of Esk and Dee streets, which are painted the same colour, demolished to make way for a new development on the block. The buildings are category 2 heritage listed.

'Once you lose a heritage building, it's lost forever.'

Heritage New Zealand Otago-Southland area manager Jonathan Howard made the comment on Tuesday, but he is withholding his thoughts on plans to demolish heritage-listed buildings in Invercargill's CBD so a brand new development can be built.

HWCP Management Ltd would like the former Southland Times building on Esk St demolished to make way for a new development on the block. The building is category 2 heritage listed.

However, he said any decision that is made has to be an informed decision.

'If there's a proposal for the loss of any [heritage] buildings we want to make sure it's an informed decision and all reasonable alternatives [for those buildings to have a future and be viable] have been explored.'

Howard said he had had preliminary discussions with HWCP director Scott O'Donnell about the company's plans for the inner city block consisting of Esk St [south side], Dee St, [movie theatre side], Tay St [north side] and Kelvin St [Kelvin Hotel side].

The company wants to demolish the majority of buildings in the block to build a new development consisting of a shopping precinct, apartments, offices and food and drink outlets.

The only buildings O'Donnell does not want demolished in the block are the Kelvin Hotel, the movie theatre building and the troopers memorial building on the corner of Dee and Tay streets which is category one heritage listed and was formerly tenanted by Pumpkin Patch.

Two of the buildings he wants demolished are category 2 heritage listed - the former Southland Times building on Esk St, and the Government Life/Brown Owl buildings on the corner of Esk and Dee streets.

Howard said he had met with O'Donnell and others about the HWCP proposal and identified avenues to explore.

'We know what they are exploring … but it's very early days for them and for us so I am waiting to get more detail.'

Heritage New Zealand would be working with the HWCP company as its plans were firmed up, Howard said.

'We are here to provide advice and help navigate them through the process … and help them explore opportunities that these buildings provide.'

An Invercargill City Council spokeswoman said resource consent was required to demolish heritage listed buildings and any street furniture identified as heritage features, such as kerb cobblestones and veranda posts.

The council would also need to be involved in discussions before any demolition, such as building control and roading, she said.