The Dunedin City Council has granted resource consent to Timaru Creek Ltd to expand the Majestic Mansions apartment complex in St Clair with the addition of an extra storey.
The Bedford St boutique hotel and apartment complex describes itself on its website as a grand 1919 heritage-listed building with art deco accents, located metres from the beach for "the ultimate beachfront escape".
The consent said the existing complex comprised three storeys containing a total of 12 one- and two-bedroom units with their own living, bathroom and kitchen facilities.
The building measures about 12m high from ground level at present and the additional floor level would increase the overall height to about 14.83m.
The rooftop apartment would contain three bedrooms, two living and kitchen areas, three bathrooms, a study and two outdoor living areas — able to be split from a single three-bedroom unit into two separate units for short-term accommodation.
It was unlikely it would have an adverse effect on views across Otago Harbour, nor have any discernible effect on the skyline vista of the city from the adjacent suburb, the consent said.
Majestic Mansions co-owner Joff Riley said he understood this would be the biggest development the building had had in the last 100 years, and it had been in the planning for the past 18 months.
The significant building upgrade would include earthquake strengthening, installing a lift and unit titling the existing 12 apartments.
Construction was expected to begin in the middle of next year and take a year to 18 months.
"It was logical to develop the rooftop given the 360° views and existing inherent structural strength of the building.
"This development will ensure the life of an iconic St Clair building for another 100 years," he said.
