A landmark 1905 villa sitting on a $3.5 million piece of land in Herne Bay, the country's most expensive suburb, is for sale for removal.
The Jervois Rd landmark was occupied by the Erawan Thai restaurant for more than 20 years, but in 2012, owner Jessica Woo got approval from Auckland Council to remove or demolish it.
Ms Woo also owns a villa backing on to the Erawan site in Lawrence St, valued at $1.42 million, which she has permission to remove or demolish.
The 280sq m Erawan villa was listed on Trade Me two weeks ago for sale for removal. "Inquiries over $200,000" were invited.
The listing says it has five bedrooms, a 3.7-metre stud, pressed tin ceilings throughout and kauri weatherboards, and is "sure to impress the villa enthusiast".
The sale has not impressed heritage advocates, who do not want the popular dining strip along Jervois Rd to lose another slice of history.
The Western Bays Community Group has called the potential loss of the villa a shocker.
Christine Cavanagh, of Herne Bay 1011, said while the group understood the owner had consent to remove the building, "we're extremely concerned that this is just the start of heritage destruction".
She said just four doors away, two adjoining villas were for sale on the north side of Jervois Rd between Lawrence St and Sentinel Rd. They have no heritage protection under the Auckland Council's proposed Unitary Plan.
This did not make sense, Mrs Cavanagh said, when adjoining streets were protected by a pre-1944 demolition rule in the draft plan - the new planning rulebook.
Mrs Cavanagh was unaware of the loss of the villa at 6 Lawrence St sitting on a 517sq m section.
Neither Ms Woo nor the company advertising the villa for removal could be reached for comment yesterday.
A council spokesman said the Erawan villa is outside the Residential 1 heritage zone and not protected by the pre-1944 rule because permission to remove it was given before the draft Unitary Plan was notified.
The spokesman said Ms Woo was listed as the current owner through Wisimca Company and the council had not received a resource consent application to develop the site.
The 1616sq m site is valued at $4.2 million, of which the land is worth $3.5 million.
The Jervois Rd and Lawrence St sites have a combined land size of 2133sq m valued at $4.7 million.
The sites are prime, north-facing land on the Herne Bay ridgeline, which could be developed for commercial and/or residential property.
Further up Jervois Rd on the site of the Ponsonby Bowling Club, 15 units in a three-storey development of single-level apartments are selling from $1.7 million to $3.2 million.
Councillor Mike Lee said Auckland's historic townscapes were suffering death by a thousand cuts.
"This philistine council erects 'public artworks' noteworthy for their crassness while it oversees the destruction of Auckland's beautiful historic buildings."
Herne Bay jewel
• Erawan villa in Jervois Rd for sale for removal.
• Heritage groups upset at loss.
• Owner Jessica Woo also permitted to remove or demolish villa next door.
• She has not lodged plans for the sites.