A derelict former Dunedin hospital has already attracted significant interest after it was put on the market yesterday.
Glamis Hospital, a former rest-home located at 28 Montpellier St, Dunedin Central, has been abandoned since 2011 and has become a magnet for vandals, illegal dumping and rats.
The property was listed yesterday with a deadline sale closing September 30, by NZ Property Solutions director Denise Casey.
The 1444sqm site was being sold “as is, where is — a structure in dereliction, which now provides a canvas brimming with possibility”.
Ms Casey told the Otago Daily Times she had already been “inundated” with calls from interested property developers.
“There will certainly be some obstacles by way of possibly removing the existing structure,” she said.
“Possibly someone will have more vision … and look to sort of remedy what’s there.
“But I’d imagine developers will look at it as a development opportunity to build some really high-end homes.”
The existing building had deteriorated severely since 2011, especially after two suspicious fires which gutted it in 2017 and 2018.
Other suspicious fires have been reported at the site over the years, including when furniture was set alight in November 2023.
In a social media post, the Dunedin Fire Brigade said it was pleased the site would be developed.
One fire at the site “became very dangerous when the roof collapsed in on some firefighters”.
Ms Casey said prospective buyers could arrange a time to be shown the site but the building was “definitely a bit of a hazard zone” and not suitable for tours.
“I can’t overstate that we don’t want anyone entering the building at all in the condition it’s in right now,” she said.
“But a good way is to look at drone footage and really just walk the perimeter.”
Ms Casey said she hoped neighbours would be pleased the site was for sale.
Council records show the property is owned by Pik Yin Loke, a family member of previous owner and late Malaysian businessman Leng Seak Loke, who intended to turn it into a student boarding house.
In 2018, the ODT reported Mr Loke was in Malaysia in poor health and he later died.
Ms Casey said she understood the family were not Dunedin-based and had no plans to restore the site.
“I believe there’s an intention from them that somebody purchase the site and actually clean it up and develop it,” she said.
“It is definitely going to be sold.”
Rating valuations from 2022 show the property had a capital value of $1,200,000, which was the value of the land — the value of improvements was $0.