Victoria Park Market may be sold soon

Retailers have complained for years about the physical deterioration of Victoria Park Market. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Auckland's historic Victoria Park Market could soon be sold.

Anthony McCullagh, managing director of PKF Corporate Recovery & Insolvency (Auckland), said he was acting for a party interested in buying the property from interests associated with owner and developer David Henderson.

But nothing was settled and the buyer still had to secure bank funding, McCullagh said.

"The markets have been begging for years for something to be done," he said, refusing to say who he represented. "It's early days yet."

Some years ago, Henderson announced a $120 million scheme to develop the property and demolish the market's carparking building opposite Victoria Park.

That never eventuated and lately he has put a compromise deal to his creditors.

Retailers have complained for years about the physical deterioration of the place. Bricks at the bottom of the destructor chimney are crumbling and tour buses are shunning the market.

Henderson said this year that he hoped the market would be fixed up soon. He had put a debt compromise to his creditors at the Northern Club in Princes St, but a bank and Inland Revenue opposed that and took the matter to the High Court at Auckland recently.

They have applied to bankrupt Henderson and a hearing has been scheduled for September 20.