A Sinn Fein Councillor has proposed that a new taskforce be established to breathe new life into Austins department store in Derry.
In a motion set to go before Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr John McGowan is urging the local authority to revitalise the former city centre store.
Austins, which opened in 1830, finally closed its doors in 2016 after managing to survive the great Irish famine, two world wars, the partition of the island and the Ulster Troubles.
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It's thought to have been one of the oldest department stores in the world, launching before Macy’s in New York and Harrods in London.
In 2017, it was hoped the building could be returned to its former glory when an application to restore and refurbish Derry's historic Austins' building was lodged with planners.
However, to date, nothing had come from the plans.
Speaking ahead of the full council meeting on March 31, Cllr McGowan said he hoped his motion could 'bring one of the city’s landmark buildings back into positive use'.
He said: “I will be proposing at this week’s full council motion that we establish a taskforce aimed at bringing the former Austins building in the Diamond back into positive use.
“This is a landmark building right in the heart of our city centre and it is a tragedy to see it in its current state.
“I believe we should be doing everything possible to realise the potential of this historic and beautiful building which can provide a real economic boost to the city centre.
“The Taskforce can take this work forward, engaging with the current owners and all relevant departments and agencies to look for solutions and provide an ambitious route forward for this building so that it can once again become part of the fabric and heartbeat of our city centre.”
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