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Three earthquake-prone buildings in South Dunedin, including the old fire-damaged Wolfenden and Russell shop, are set to make way for a modern retail development and office space.
Demolition could be carried out before the end of the year and the new building might be ready by the end of 2022, Positive Property Ltd director Justin Stott said.
Mr Stott bought three connected buildings in King Edward St in May and June and expected to settle soon on a fourth.
His concept plans were for a three- level building, at 134-154 King Edward St, including 300sqm of retail and 3000sqm of office space, as well as 40 car parks.
He also planned to strengthen and refurbish 160 King Edward St as a heritage building.
‘‘The result is that most of the block, which is currently in a poor state, will be rebuilt or refurbished,’’ Mr Stott said.
‘‘It is a prime location for a new building — it’s busy, highly visible and very accessible.’’
Wolfenden and Russell traded for 100 years before the clothing shop shut in 2013.
It was damaged extensively by fire last year.
Mr Stott was enthusiastic about the potential for his development to help provide a lift for the area, and he noted vehicle movement numbers in King Edward St were almost as high as in the nearby one-way State Highway 1.
‘‘It’s going to be a big change for the neighbourhood,’’ he said.
Dunedin City Council business relationship manager Des Adamson said the proposed development would be a positive result for the area.
He expected the development, along with the planned South Dunedin library and community complex, and an upgrade of the Hillside railway workshops, would reinvigorate the area.
Mr Stott was raised in Macandrew Rd, South Dunedin, and has spent 10 years redeveloping the old Mainland cheese factory there into a mixed-use commercial site.
He was part of the South Dunedin Action Group that formed after flooding in 2015.
Mr Stott said he hoped to salvage materials from the original buildings in King Edward St and incorporate them into the new construction.
‘‘Old brick might be used to create feature entrance lobbies and we hope there will be some nice old timber beams that we can use in some way.
‘‘We want this building to have character and hope it will become a well-loved feature of the local area.’’ Mike Hunter, of WJ Cadzow and Associates, designed the building and Naylor Love is to construct it.
