Weakened older buildings making space for the new

The latest design of what the new building on the former Wolfenden and Russell site in South Dunedin will look like. IMAGE: SUPPLIED

A series of buildings in South Dunedin have nearly been demolished, including the fire-damaged Wolfenden and Russell building.

The buildings in King Edward St are being demolished to make space for a modern retail and office space development.

Wolfenden and Russell traded for 100 years before the clothing shop shut in 2013.

It was damaged extensively by fire in July last year.

A 1930 Dodge was trapped in the building when the roof collapsed during the fire and was mechanically extracted from the wreckage last month.

Positive Property Ltd director Justin Stott said the demolition was going well and should finish in a week

Three earthquake-prone buildings in South Dunedin have nearly been demolished, making way for retail and office spaces. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY

The plans had been updated after receiving feedback from the community.

The building would incorporate reclaimed materials and included elements that represented the three old buildings.

The development would have three levels, including 350sqm of retail and 3000sqm of office space, as well as about 40 car parks.

It would be built next year.

There were also plans to strengthen and refurbish 160 King Edward St as a heritage building, he said.

2 Comments

Comments

Daisy Tue, 07/12/2021 - 8:51am #

Great to see investment in South Dunedin, excellent

Pukeko Wed, 08/12/2021 - 5:15pm #

While the WR building was stuffed by the fire, and didn't really have much architectural merit either, it's appalling he knocked over the two story Victorian building with the bay windows, the same type commonly seen on seaside towns in England. Just shout repeatedly it's earthquake prone or got asbestos to justify smashing down something that's stood there 140 years. He was even a person that was brought up there in South Dunedin, and now another vapid, generic glass box replacing it. While the likelihood of earthquake prone ness is there, then he could have kept the facade, braced by RSJs bolted on, as part of the new construction.