Whanganui District Council says overseas owner will repair Hallenstein's building veranda "urgently"

The owner of the heritage Hallenstein's building is getting the decaying veranda fixed.

Work is set to begin on interim repairs to the unsafe veranda of the Hallenstein's heritage building.

Whanganui District Council's building control team had been considering issuing a dangerous building notice but the owner contacted the council to say he had employed a contractor, team leader Greg Hoobin said.

"The owner of the building made contact with the council over the weekend and supplied details of a contractor who will undertake the remedial work required for the veranda," Hoobin said.

"A site meeting with a council representative took place [on Monday, April 23] and interim repairs to address safety concerns are expected to be completed in the next few days."

Clothing store Andersons has moved out of the heritage building on the corner of Victoria Ave and Ridgway St, with owner Darrell Smith saying a lack of maintenance over eight years and a dangerous veranda have forced the move.

"After more than a year of trying to get the owner to do something about it, I decided to move when the opportunity presented itself," Smith said.

"It was time to get out for the safety of my public and the safety of my staff."

See earlier story: Andersons clothing store on the move

Hoobin said his staff first made contact with building owner William Cheng, who lives in Singapore, on September 18 last year after they became aware of the veranda's state of disrepair.

"We sent him photographs of the state of the building," Hoobin said.

"On 22 September 2017, Mr Cheng responded to the building control team to say he would look at engaging contractors. In further correspondence, Mr Cheng told the building control team he was having trouble getting a contractor to do the work and in February 2018, Mr Cheng said that he would be looking outside of Whanganui for contractors to do the work."

The council has been closely monitoring the building's veranda.

"We have let the owner know a dangerous building notice may have to be issued if work is not started urgently," Hoobin said.

"If we can, we prefer to work with the owner to ensure repairs and maintenance work are carried out, rather than issue a dangerous building notice."

The Hallenstein's building is a Class B heritage building but Hoobin said although the council worked with owners of heritage buildings to protect and conserve them, there was no obligation under the Building Act to maintain a building, other than ensuring it did not cause injury or death.

The Hallenstein's building is in the Old Town Conservation Zone.

It was built in 1912 to accommodate the New Zealand Clothing Factory, known as Hallenstein Brothers, as well as provide offices for other tenants. At the time of its construction it was one of the most significant buildings in Whanganui.

It has housed architects, a dental surgery, an art school, cafes, the Wanganui Savings Bank and Awa FM radio station. Andersons for Men moved into the building in 1994.