More than 70 submissions were made on the future of the Sims Building, formerly Stevenson and Cook, after the Dunedin City Council asked for expressions of interest and public input on the future of the building, built in 1880, earlier this year.
Included in the submissions was a proposal by Aramoana man Bill Brown, who restored the old Angus Motor Building in Princes St.
In his proposal Mr Brown said he had experience with the costs and work involved in restoring buildings and had already developed a working relationship with the council and the city’s building contractors.
Speaking to the Otago Daily Times, Mr Brown said he was motivated to save the building as it was the only pre-1900 building connected to the city’s maritime history still standing.
"I would much rather someone else do it, because I think there’s a great opportunity for the Port Chalmers town and the wider Dunedin to benefit from it ... But if I have to do it I will."
It was a great opportunity to develop a community asset and honour the township’s history, rather than a burden, which was how the council viewed the situation, he said. A condition of the proposal was Mr Brown wanted the council to give him a 29-year leasehold on the building as well as rates relief and a heritage grant.
As the building was on council reserve land the building must have a public use, although the council had said a commercial operation which had community values would be considered.Mr Brown said he was confident a little bit of creative thinking would allow his commercial proposal to go ahead.
What went inside the building when it was finally restored did not matter, he said.
"I wouldn’t mind if they decided to park five buses in there, it’s really about retaining this historic link to our maritime heritage, which is a community benefit in and of itself."
Other proposals included developing the building into a playground, a community centre, a food and craft market, a tourism centre and a car park.
Further work on the submissions and proposal would be done by council staff and a more exhaustive report on the future use of the building would be presented to the West Harbour Community Board next year.
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As one who as a child visited this building with my Father on night-shift while mine-sweepers were being built inside during WW2, I applaud any move to retain this building - perhaps to incorporate photos of that wartime activity. Might be of interest (free?) to cruiseship passengers? There are many related photos of that ship-building available online. Trevor Hislop
All that comes to mind after the reading of this article is the word bulldozer...