The wrecking ball is looming for the century old former Masterton central fire station in Queen Street.
Masterton property developer Florus Bosch said there is no immediate demolition order for the two-storey building, but its eventual destruction is guaranteed.
Tenants vacated the second-storey apartments ahead of the construction of the Briscoes building
at the rear of the site in 2008 although a ground floor retail business remains.
The gift shop occupying the Queen Street premises is now advertising a relocation sale.
The former Central Fire Station building and a bordering vacant site together comprise an 1800sqm lot, Mr Bosch said, which he is planning to develop once tenants are secured.
"We are working with potential tenants at present and the building will be demolished this year, hopefully, which will mean we have parties who have signed along the dotted line," Mr Bosch said.
The vacant lot was the former site of the Waggs garage and automotive showroom - known until two years ago as the South End Mart - that neighboured the Dalgety's Building to the south. Both structures were demolished in 2007 to clear the way for the Briscoes development.
"The (former fire station) building was to be demolished at the same time but it wasn't in the way so it never happened - but it certainly will," Mr Bosch said.
Wairarapa archivist Gareth Winter earlier told the Times-Age the Central Fire Station had originally featured a small stable at the rear of the building and that succeeding second-hand dealers had occupied the South End Mart building since 1924.
Mr Winter said the Dalgety's Building was the last of the three structures to be built and had comprised an auction room on the Queen Street frontage and a rear building through to Dixon Street that was a general store.
The South End Mart had until its demolition contained a rotating mechanical turntable used for vehicle movement in and out of the structure, he said, when the building housed an automotive showroom and garage.
Donald's Saddlery had been also earlier housed on the site, he said.
