341 Brook Street - described as a three-bed, two-bath alpine-style cosy home for relocation. Photo: Trade Me
The Nelson City Council is hoping to recoup some of the $6.7 million spent on buying 10 slip-prone properties, by selling the homes for relocation.
The council originally planned to remediate several slips from public land in The Brook after the August 2022 storm - but offered to buy out the properties last November after investigation showed further slope failures during heavy rain were likely.
Council had reached settlements with all 10 property owners by April, at a total cost of $6.7m, Nelson mayor Nick Smith said.
Now, the homes, along with a studio and garage package are on the market, for relocation, by tender, with no reserve.
"What we are trying to do is to recover as much value as we can, to offset the cost to the council of having purchased those properties because of the landslide risk."
It was difficult to know the market interest in the buildings for relocation, which is why they had been put up for tender, Smith said.
He said those that were in good condition and on piles for easy removal, were likely to be more desirable. The costs of relocating the homes would rest with the buyers.
Those that did not sell would be demolished.
A 1900s villa with a wraparound deck at 331 Brook Street. Photo: Trade Me
"It's going to require some pretty innovative people, whether they be builders or others, to find a way in which they can maximise the value from these buildings that need to go from this landslide risk area," Smith said.
"It is quite possible across the 10 properties that depending on how practical it is and their condition, as to whether any will end up being deconstructed."
The proceeds of any sales would go towards demolition if required, and then remediation of the land.
Council did not intend to allow building on the land again, Smith said.
"If we knew the level of risk, they would not have been built on in the first place."
A two-storey home at 329 Brook Street. Photo: Trade Me
Council infrastructure acting group manager David Light said once the buildings were removed, it would install a bund with stormwater controls below the properties to protect council services, the road, and properties across the street.
The land would then be planted out and would potentially become part of the Tantragee Reserve.
Tenders will close on 15 May, with any unsold structures then being packaged for tender for deconstruction.
