THE future of the priest’s old house, behind the newly built hardware store in Osborn Road, eShowe has not yet been decided.
Amafa Heritage KZN has not made a decision to keep or demolish the house, but have asked an agent to negotiate with ‘the objectors.’
The objections regarding the more than 50 year old house were presented at a recent meeting of the Amafa Built Environment Committee.
The objections to the demolition were reviewed and it was agreed that further discussions would be held regarding the possibility of retaining the building.
It was felt that demolition would be a last resort.
Many of the issues raised for its demolition revolve around what has been created without Amafa approval rather than the merits of the existing listed building.
Two options available
At present there are two ‘camps’ of opinion, one is to keep it in its original location and the other to dismantle it for re-use elsewhere.
In analysing the two scenarios, the committee found that if demolition or dismantling is allowed, the materials from the building must be kept and become the possession of the museum for use for the restoration of other houses or as a reconstruction on another site.
This would necessitate a detailed survey and documentation before demolition.
The developer would be responsible for the cost of this, as well as transport and storage arrangements.
The report further recommends strict conservation guidelines with regards to this process.
This procedure has been done in other towns and the ‘Historical or cultural Centre’ has benefited from various parts of the town’s history being kept in one place.
Retain on existing site
In the report the second option is the retention of the house in its current location and this is the historically correct solution.
Unfortunately, the downside of this is that it will never be viewed again in its domestic setting and could suffer further loss or abuse by its current use, even after restoration and change to offices.
The change of use of old buildings in a ‘light industrial’ settings have in the past led to their deterioration and they are not afforded the respect deserved.
The current setting is vehicle-orientated and will continue to be so.
Whereas if the change of use were to offices or medical, some of the respect is retained by the nature of the use.
The removal of the house will allow for a more rational solution to the access and parking requirements of the current use and alleviate the problems experienced currently.
Amafa Heritage KZN is awaiting comments that is acceptable to all parties, but the final call will be Amafa’s.
