A Derry City and Strabane District councillor has voiced his concern for the state of disrepair of the iconic Austins building in the city centre.
Sinn Fein Cllr John McGowan said the building, which has been dubbed the world's oldest department store, is a "complete eyesore", that "used to be the heart of the city".
It comes after councillors passed a motion to establish a task force that will look at whether the current owners have any plans for the building.
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Speaking in the council chamber, Cllr McGowan said: “I would call on the council to initiate a meeting with the owners to investigate their plans. We all know there are a number of listed buildings lying empty and it reduces the rates coming into this city and it doesn’t give us the resources to do the things we need to do.
“I would also look within that task force to ask the council if there are enforcement powers we aren’t using at the minute. Have we visited the building, have we checked it’s not going to fall down any day soon?
“I believe it’s an iconic building, it’s in a central spot, there are other ones as well and I think as a city we need to get these buildings back into play and back into public use.”
UUP Alderman Derek Hussey proposed an amendment to the motion, asking for "the Austins taskforce is used as a pilot to guide further consideration of enhancement of other such properties throughout our council area". The motion passed unanimously.
Meanwhile, Ulster Architectural Heritage said the building is currently "robust" but its future will be pivotal to maintenance.
Speaking to the BBC's Mark Patterson Show on Tuesday, the Vice-Chairman of UAH said: "It's an absolute beauty [of a building]. Built in 1907, still standing and it's a gem in Derry.
"It's a very robust building but all historic buildings depend on mainly one thing and that's keeping the water out. There are areas where the water is coming in. It's still a very impressive building, the character is still there.
"What I always say to councillors and MLAs is that nothing happens without political will. If you go on holiday to Europe, you come back enthusing about historic buildings and then come here and see a historic building in disrepair and you want to knock it down.
"A hotel would be the obvious thing [for Austins] but it has to be able to stand on its own two feet."
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