The Dunedin City Council had intended to press ahead with demolition this winter, but council chief executive Sandy Graham said it would wait until a tenant had moved, likely about May.
Community Care Trust occupies a building at the corner of King Edward St and Macandrew Rd — the site of
the planned library — and Ms Graham said that there was a desire to keep the trust in the South Dunedin area.
"We think we’ve done that," she said.
The council had promoted a completion date of the 2023-24 financial year for the $11.6million centre, but it could now open "at some stage" in 2024.
"Until we have a clear construction timeframe, we can’t provide a firm completion date, but we’re planning for the new facility to open at some stage in 2024," Ms Graham said.
The trust supports adults and young people with intellectual disabilities and people with autistic spectrum disorders in Otago and Southland.
Trust chief executive Mike Brummitt did not confirm a new home for the trust had been secured.
"We’re happy to work with the council," he said.
"We know the library is important to the community and we don’t want to stand in the way."
Mr Brummitt said the trust expected to be able to carry on its work without too much disruption.
Ms Graham said that the council had been working with the trust to help it relocate.
"We expect this will happen around May next year and demolition of the buildings will follow shortly afterwards."
The council bought the site in March 2019, carried out painting there and then discovered starting afresh was much more cost-effective than using the existing buildings.
The single-storey complex is to include a library, customer service space, meeting rooms, an IT learning centre and recording studio.
Major tenants Para Rubber and Veggie Boys left last year.
A concept design for the new complex is expected to be released in the next two months.
