New development held up by those stuck in the past

The man behind plans to replace part of a protected Dunedin townscape with a new apartment and retail development says he is still hoping for progress despite years of delays. Luke Dirkzwager, of Prista Apartments in Christchurch, was granted permission in 2010 to demolish the buildings at 372-392 Princes St and 11 Stafford St. That came only after his consent application in 2008 triggered two years of hearings, petitions, public meetings, and heated opposition, before the council's hearings committee decided to grant consent. However, the fate of the buildings has hung in the balance ever since, after the New Zealand Historic Places Trust appealed to the Environment Court and other parties joined in. An Environment Court hearing had been scheduled for the middle of last year, but was delayed until later in the year, and then again to an unconfirmed date later this year. Seriously, NZHPT needs to get a life. Just because "they are among the very oldest in the city" doesn't automatically mean they are worth keeping. The buildings in question have little or zero historical value. They are not only an eye sore on the cityscape of Dunedin, but are dangerous, and they will almost certainly be the cause of injury or death to anyone walking past them when they decide to crumble, be it due to old age, an earthquake, or poor maintenances. Case in point: this type of concrete facade was responsible for numerous deaths in the Christchurch earthquakes. They are crappy old buildings, and we should be grateful that a person like Mr Dirkzwager is prepared to undertake a redevelopment of this area of Dunedin. Good on him. This type of development needs to be encouraged if we want Dunedin to grow. NZHPT stands in the way of progress in this city and they do not speak for all of us.