Owner to spruce up building
CHEERS and applause greeted an unexpected announcement at this week’s LawrenceTuapeka Community Board meeting.
The celebration was prompted by an email received that day and shared by board chairman Geoff Davidson, concerning a boardedup shop in the town’s main thoroughfare, Ross Pl.
In the email, the shop’s Invercargill owner said work would soon resume on refurbishing its frontage, the appearance of which has been a continuing frustration for the board since May 2018.
Unable to contact the owner until now, the board had considered alternatives including screening the storefront with planter boxes and seating, at its own expense.
It seemed that would no longer be necessary, Mr Davidson said.
‘‘I’m really happy with this as an outcome . . . This is the best option and the board is very pleased, as you can see.’’
In the email, the shop owner apologised for the delay.
‘‘We only ever stopped initially for winter, and intended to resume in spring, but then other factors intervened . . . I regret that it has taken so long,’’ the email said.
Building would resume ‘‘as soon as the weather improves’’.
Despite an earlier board report criticising the shop for ‘‘detracting from the heritage features’’ of the main street, Mr Davidson refused to be drawn on the severity of its impact on visitors’ experiences during the past two years.
‘‘We’re just happy to hear things should be on the move again.’’