Council offices to apartments? Developers express interest

“You could gut that out and put some really nice inner city apartments in there. Both developers have said to me that is what they would be interested in.

Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark said two developers have expressed an interest in the council’s civic administration building if it becomes available.

Two developers have expressed interest in transforming the Invercargill City Council’s current civic administration building in Esk St into apartments.

In November 2020 the council agreed to budget $16m towards a “seriously overdue” upgrade of its civic administration building.

However, it was later revealed the likely cost for the Esk St building refurbishment had climbed to a forecasted $27.9m.

The work was initially scheduled to be completed next year but it is now on hold as the council works through the various options. It includes potentially moving its council operations to a new development elsewhere.