Board to consider building

The future of the potentially earthquake damage-prone Alexandra Plunket building will come under the spotlight next week as the Vincent Community Board debates whether to sell it.

The Central Otago District Council owns the property and the 1953 building is leased to Plunket.

The Skird St building needed a new roof, the council's property and facilities officer Tara Bates said, in a report to be considered at the board meeting on Monday.

Last year the board decided against spending money on capital improvements to the building.

Plunket decided to look for an alternative venue and wanted to end its lease by late January and move to the new Alexandra Community House complex, Miss Bates said.

The building had been identified by the council as potentially earthquake damage-prone. It needed a new roof and getting a building consent for that work would trigger the council's earthquake damage-prone building policy, and the building would need strengthening.

Plunket contributed $1600 towards the $7452 cost of construction in 1953, which was 21%, Miss Bates said.

The land was zoned business in the district plan, which might have implications on the selling price, due to the obligations under the earthquake damage prone building policy. Residential activity was permitted in a business zone, subject to certain rules, and that might provide scope for potential buyers and avoid the need to strengthen the building.

Miss Bates recommended the board sell the building and offer some of the net proceeds to Plunket.