George Prochowski (at left in image) owns the old Maitland Mercury building on High Street. But his plans to turn the city’s old newspaper headquarters into a restaurant and accommodation at the front and residential apartments at the back have hit a snag that could leave the building unoccupied. 

Mr Prochowski wants the residential units to consist of a lounge room and kitchen downstairs and bedrooms on the second floor. However, state government conditions prevent habitable space on the ground floor, because it is below the flood level.

Mr Prochowski said he was unaware of the constraints when he bought the building and it would be a deal breaker for his development plans.

“Our hands are tied from developing this wonderful old building,” he said.

Mr Prochowski said the situation was unfair given that nearby cafes, restaurants and shops were allowed to have habitable space, like dining areas and kitchens, below the flood level because they were zoned as commercial properties.

Mr Prochowski had planned to use money from the sale of the residential units to help fund expensive work on the heritage front section of the building.

Cr Arch Humphery (pictured right) said there was a risk that rigid flood constraints would mean the old Mercury building would be left to rot. “This is part of Maitland’s history, it’s part of the newspaper industry’s history,” he said.