Another empty and run-down central Greymouth hotel is facing demolition.
Grey District Council environmental services manager Ben Healy said the Mawhera Incorporation, which now owns the Royal Hotel land and buildings on Mawhera Quay, has advised it wishes to demolish the building.
However, like Revingtons Hotel, the Royal Hotel has a category 2 designation from Heritage New Zealand.
The Vercoe family of Nelson, owners of Revingtons, have applied for resource consent to demolish that building but it has been stalled by appeals from Heritage NZ and the Greymouth Heritage Trust.
Before demolishing the Royal, Mawhera will have to consult Heritage NZ.
In September last year the Grey District Council issued an unsanitary and dangerous building notice on the Royal Hotel to the incorporation. It was considered unsanitary after a council inspection on September 9 found it to be in a state of disrepair and leaking in several places at the rear.
It was deemed dangerous because if a fire occurred, injury or death to any person in the building would be likely, Mr Healy said.
The council had requested the owners to cover the windows, which had been done, but since Mawhera wanted to demolish the building no remedial work was requested.
The council was now waiting for Mawhera's application for a resource consent to demolish the building.
The three-storey Royal Hotel has been empty for about five years
In recent weeks attention has focused on empty dilapidated buildings around the central business district giving Greymouth a negative image.
Another building causing concern is the former Golden Eagle Hotel, latterly a nightclub and then the Coalface restaurant, on the corner of Mackay and Boundary streets, which has been empty for six years.
Owner Colin Cutler said he had no plans to demolish the building, or the original Golden Eagle next door (latterly The Wine Bar), as it remained in "fairly sound" condition.
"Several people have looked at it (to lease) and decided against going ahead. We've looked at reopening ourselves but we'll probably look to sell or lease. We'll revisit it in the spring," Mr Cutler said.
The council has proposed changes to its amenity protection bylaw to prompt owners to keep their buildings and sections up to an acceptable level. Public feedback closes on April 17.
- by Chris Tobin
