Volunteer Peter Nicholls, of Dunedin, collects signatures
for a petition against a proposal to demolish a group of
buildings on Princes St, Dunedin. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Opposition to the demolition of a block of buildings in
Princes St, Dunedin, continues as another petition gains
support and raises awareness.
Christchurch developer Luke Dirkzwager has been seeking
approval since 2008 to demolish 372-392 Princes St and
replace the buildings with 15 apartments, with space for
retailing on the ground floor.
Following a hearing in December, an interim decision was
released by a Dunedin City Council hearings committee last
month.
It indicated it was "of a mind" to approve his plans if his
company, Prista Apartments, came up with a different design
more in character with the precinct.
The alternative plans must be provided by July 1 and a final
decision on the consent, followed by an appeal period, would
follow.
Trish Saunders, of Dunedin, started a petition opposing the
project, which attracted 260 signatures, and it was presented
at the first hearing.
She is now collecting signatures again but this time she is
fighting "demolition by neglect".
She would like a register of at-risk buildings to be
established and to have penalties put in place for owners of
buildings who kept them in a rundown state.
"They can use the poor state of the buildings as the reason
to demolish them."
About 90% of the people she spoke to were supportive but she
would not reveal how many had signed the petition, saying it
was "irrelevant if it's a numbers game".
The loss of other buildings in the area - such as the Century
Theatre - was concerning people, she said.
"I think there is growing awareness that buildings like the
railway station are protected but these small buildings
aren't.
"I think we've got to think about the streetscape in Dunedin,
as well as the heritage."
It appeared the council was on the same wavelength as it set
up a heritage buildings economic reuse steering group in
January.
Cr Fliss Butcher said the group would help raise awareness
about how heritage buildings could be made economically
viable, rather than letting them "sit there and rot".
"I hope we can save some of these buildings."
She was not able to comment on those in Princes St.
ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz
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