Demolition of older single-storey Napier Hospital wards is likely to start in the next few weeks as part of redevelopment of the prime hill-top site which has been mothballed since the facility closed 16 years ago.
The demolition at the western end of the 5ha site overlooking the Ahuriri Estuary and the Napier Inner Harbour will kick-start an eight-lot residential development by Auckland-headquartered Todd Property Group, which bought the site two years ago.
The Stage 1 development on and around the James Foley Ward site was announced yesterday after a blessing by Te Whanganui a Orotu kaumatua Mat Eru in the wards' carpark.
Resource consent applications for the subdivision are with the Napier City Council, but plans are still being made for other stages, with no firm decision on the future of the hospital's landmark tower block.
TPG Napier Hill Development manager James Crews said restrengthening and renovation were still options for the tower block in what would be the fourth and last stage of a project which could take 10 years or more, depending on market demands.