Auckland architect and historic buildings enthusiast Allan Matson is upset that the building next to the Baptist Tabernacle Church on the corner of Queen St and Karangahape Rd will be demolished.
He said the distinctive building on the northwest corner of the prominent intersection gave the area characterand its demolition meant more Auckland history would be lost.
He is disappointed the building, at 441 Queen St, is not listed by the Historic Places Trust or Auckland City Council and the church trust has consent to demolish.
"No one appears to have given any consideration as to whether the building is of sufficient merit to avoid demolition," said Matson. "The building is very much part of the place and has been since the turn of last century when it became the first building to be erected on this significant corner site.
"The proposed development could proceed without the need to demolish much of the existing building fabric."
Auckland Baptist Tabernacle Church business manager Grahame Walker said a fire had destroyed part of a second-level floor. "If we didn't knock it down soon, it would probably have fallen down."
He added that demolition is scheduled in the next three to four weeks.
The church trust had resource consent to build an $8 million office retail development with underground parking on the site, said Walker. If the building had any historic merit, preservation orders would have been placed on it, he added.
