A contentious plan to demolish a series of protected historic buildings in Princes St, Dunedin, and another in Stafford St, will go before a reconvened resource consent hearing on Monday.
But a final decision on the subject, first considered late last year, will probably not come until next year.
The issue has been in the balance since October last year, when Christchurch-based developer Luke Dirkzwager's Prista Apartments applied for consent to demolish buildings from 372 to 392 Princes St, and 11 Stafford St, and replace them with a five-storeyed building with 15 apartments, penthouses and retail space.
The plan met strong opposition, including a petition signed by 260 people, opposition from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, and other submissions to a hearing in December last year, opposing the plan.
Following that hearing, the applicant was required to produce heritage and structural reports, which concluded saving the facades would be prohibitively costly.
But a council-commissioned report argued that conclusion was based on insufficient study of the building, and estimated retaining the facades was both possible and economically viable.
The applicant was required to respond, and that response will be considered on Monday.
Hearings committee chairman Colin Weatherall said the committee would also take archaeological and urban design advice, and more submissions, but only on the new information.
He was not confident a decision would be made before Christmas.
