Any takers? Historic fire-damaged building up for sale
A heritage-listed building in Invercargill’s CBD, ravaged by fire six months ago, is going on the market.
But one of its owners is doubtful it will sell.
Linda Lee said it would cost “millions” to strengthen and restore the former Briscoe and Co. building on Dee Street, an amount the current owners could not afford.
“The insurance we have got would not cover that,” Lee said.
The building, opened in 1882, was damaged by fire on September 6.
The blaze was caused by an electric blanket fault, with a boy suffering burns and several others smoke inhalation, while several businesses were forced to move out.
The footpath in front of the fire-damaged building had been closed since, to the upset of nearby business owners who say they have lost customers as a result.
Lee said the building, widely known in Invercargill as the Briscoe building but also referred to as the Pall Mall building, would go on the market in about a fortnight.
“What we would like to see is for someone to come along and buy the building.”
She didn’t think anyone would be interested due to the high cost of restoring it, but decided to give it a go.
“I guess I have got rose-tinted glasses because I love heritage buildings.
“There are people with deep pockets. Someone might come along and say, ‘we would like to preserve it’. Stranger things have happened.”
Lee said the building was not deemed to be earthquake prone before the fire, but it was afterwards.
“Now it would need to be strengthened, there’s a lot more conditions attached.” As a backup plan, she was also planning to apply to have the building demolished, in the event it didn’t sell.
Lee, who had addressed the immediate dangers of the building since the fire, said she was unsure if a demolition permit would be granted as it was heritage listed.
“Not sure we can do that. We are in a real bind ... whether we would get permission is another story.”
The building was designed by prominent architect Frederick William Burwell, who was responsible for much of the commercial heart of Invercargill.
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga communications and marketing manager Adrienne Hannan said the fire was devastating for both the occupiers and the owner.
It was sad to see such a significant heritage building damaged, she said.
“Briscoe and Co is linked to the historical expansion of international retail into New Zealand and the building has a strong presence in a streetscape of impressive examples of architecture. “It is our hope that Ms Lee is able to sell this building and that a potential owner will see the opportunity to strengthen and adaptively reuse this building, so it continues to be part of Invercargill for generations to come.”
Hannan said councils had the authority to approve or deny demolition. If demolition was applied for, it would require consent and Heritage New Zealand would be notified by the council as an affected party.
“We will have the opportunity to make a submission, which will include our recommendations and suggested conditions for their consideration.”
Private owners of heritage listed places could apply to Heritage New Zealand’s national heritage incentive preservation fund for financial support for works including strengthening work, Hannan said.
The fund opens from late April till June for applications