Neighbours of an empty Mosgiel section are delighted an apartment block not a McDonald's restaurant is proposed for Hartstonge St.
Mitchell Developments owner Craig Mitchell said when he was clearing the section he owned at 14 Hartstonge Ave, next to Mosgiel New World, people stopped to ask about his intention for the land.
''I told them it was to build a McDonald's or the Mongrel Mob's new headquarters,'' he laughed.
Neither was true.
Mr Mitchell is working with the Dunedin City Council to obtain resource consent to build 10 townhouses on the land.
Neighbours were ''excited'' apartments would be built on the land.
''They're all rapt; the three neighbours I've spoken to are very relieved houses are going there rather than a McDonald's.''
McDonald's gained consent to build on the land in late 2009 but a consent condition restricting opening hours prompted the restaurant chain to reconsider.
Mr Mitchell said he expected the foundation of the first apartment to be poured before Christmas.
The ''upmarket'' apartments would include polished blockwork, heat pumps, electric garage door openers and gas fires, but the location would be the major selling point, he said.
A new townhouse was hot property in Mosgiel, especially with older people downsizing after selling the family home, he said.
"We've been running since 2003 and we've built 43 in Mosgiel ... sections in Mosgiel are harder and harder to get.''
A McDonald's spokeswoman said McDonald's had ''no plans'' to build a restaurant in Mosgiel.
