New storey for old building

Scaffolding is erected around the former New Zealand Hardware Company Ltd building in Cumberland St yesterday.

The Dunedin City Council has granted the owners a resource consent to build a third storey on the 113-year-old building.

The proposal involves adding 10 mezzanine-style residential units to the building while the existing retail and office activities will remain on the ground and first floor.

In considering the application, council heritage adviser Andrea Farminer said the proposed addition to the building was generally sympathetic to the Stuart St commercial heritage precinct and would not have notable adverse effects on the surrounding streetscape.

Originally the building had three storeys before a fire in the late 1950s resulted in the removal of the top floor.