Wanaka's main street may soon get a retail upgrade with a resource consent application for a new commercial development about to be considered by council planners Lakes Environmental.
Gillee Holdings Ltd wants to build a two-storey commercial development to replace its single-level building, which occupies numbers 8, 10, and 12 Helwick St, near the intersection with lower Ardmore St.
Gillee Holdings director Sean Gilbertson said the development would "probably" cost $2 million.
However, despite the resource consent application submitted for consideration by Lakes Environmental planners, Mr Gilbertson said a decision had yet to be made on the final design for the two-level development.
Gillee holdings has applied to demolish the existing building, which houses Wanaka Sports and the Pembroke Wool Shop, and rebuild.
The new premises would have three retail areas on the ground floor and three office suites on the second level.
The application says the two existing tenants are interested in retaining their leases, with NZ Post set to take the other retail area.
NZ Post has to vacate its existing premises in upper Ardmore St by April 2009.
Mr Gilbertson, the chief executive of Pisa Range winter vehicle testing facility the Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground, said a combination of tight economic times and uncertainty about whether tenants could be found for the upper level office spaces, might force a design revision of the development.
The development site occupies 594sq m and the proposed building height is 8m.
Two on-site car parks and a loading zone would be provided at the rear of the building.
