The Briscoe and Co building on Dee St was engulfed by fire last September
Since then temporary containers have been placed in the walkway in front of the heritage-listed building.
In July, ILT chief executive Chris Ramsay and businesses in the area urged council to have a timeline as the containers were not only an "eyesore" but were also putting people off the area.
In a statement released to the Otago Daily Times yesterday, the council’s chief executive Michael Day said they had been proactively working with the building's owner on issues that have been raised by the community.
Their focus in the short term was to address concerns raised regarding the type of containers in place outside the building.
"Council has agreed to change the current containers to newer containers and we expect the new containers to be in place by the end of the month," Mr Day said.
"We remain focused on working towards a longer-term outcome with the building owner.”
Mr Ramsay said replacing the containers addressed only part of the problem.
"Let's go straight back to what the actual issue is and the actual issue is — why are they even there?
"As much as putting new containers here will make it look tidier, the fact of the matter is, I've asked repeatedly, and I know others have, for evidence as to why thecontainers are even needed."
He said there were earthquake-prone buildings throughout the city and they had notices advising people about entering.
Mr Ramsay said he wanted was a timeline and action from the council for the problem to be completely resolved.
"So we've now passed a year, a whole year of this situation, and there's a fair argument to say that if we hadn't raised this as an issue ... nothing would be happening.
"They wouldn't have even changed the containers.
"So to say that I'm exasperated and frustrated is an understatement."
Miss Vintage Lighting owner Anne-Maree Thomas said the state of the building was ridiculous, with weeds growing out of it, debris and even a road cone on top of it.
She said changing the containers was only a band-aid for the real problem.
"It took that time for them just to upgrade the containers?
"How long will take to really resolve the issue?
"I hope we never have an earthquake like Christchurch had because if we have one and that is how they have things resolved, in that speed— we are all doomed," Ms Thomas said.
