Lawrence officials have been trying to remedy an "unsightly" privately owned boarded-up former store on the town’s Ross Pl since 2018.
Now Tapanui community leaders are appealing to the Clutha District Council to make an Auckland owner address an "eyesore" building on their main street.
Tapanui West Otago Promotions (TWO) chairman Horace McAuley said residents first raised concerns about the former Tapanui Courier building three years ago.
Since that time, TWO members had attempted on several occasions to engage the owner, an Auckland resident, in conducting repairs to the building, but to no avail.
"It’s certainly a matter of local concern, as another shop is likely to shut soon, meaning we could have some gaps in the CBD just as the town is going ahead with new residential developments.
"A glance at the Courier building will tell you it’s unsafe and is only going to get worse. Sadly, it’s just being left to rot and I’m quite sure if it were on Balclutha’s main street, the council would have something to say about it.
"At present we believe it’s a health and safety issue and a temptation to idle hands, and we’d like to see action taken that will help encourage a vibrant, thriving CBD."
The building’s owner could not be contacted for comment last week.
Clutha District Council chief executive Steve Hill said the council’s hands were tied in terms of forcing private owners to refurbish their properties, except under extreme circumstances.
"In terms of ‘tidying up’ buildings, council has no powers. The only time council has a responsibility is if a building is deemed dangerous."
A dangerous building was defined as one likely to cause injury or death to people in it or a neighbouring property, or damage to other property, through fire or other means.
Mr Hill said fire safety could be ascertained through a Fenz inspection, but he did not believe "broken windows" rose to the defined level of a dangerous building.
A public consultation on council bylaws taking place at present was not reviewing regulations surrounding the maintenance of private property, he said.
Lawrence officials were cautiously optimistic about their own "eyesore" when contacted last week.
Lawrence-Tuapeka Community Board chairman Geoff Davidson said contractors had been seen conducting initial site work at the Ross Place building recently, and its owner had indicated work would begin on its refurbishment this winter.
