The former Carrington Hotel on High Street, known to many as Bob’s Bird Barn, was listed last week by Sydney owner Andre Kahlil.

Despite his dreams to transform the old dame into chic inner-city accommodation, the building has sat empty since the pet shop operators vacated.

With Maitland City Council deep into plans to rejuvenate the Heritage Mall, the timing could be a master stroke according to Maitland Business Chamber president Steve Thomson, provided the price was right.

“With council doing what they are and with interest rates what they are, there could be no better time [to buy the building],” he said.

“It’s got to be a good opportunity with interest rates set to go even lower and a favourable council to redevelopment.”

The property is listed with boutique Sydney real estate agent Bondings and has six car parks, 14 bedrooms and four showers.

The building adjoins a substantial shop-top living project that young couples and retirees have met with great enthusiasm.

Grand Design Properties sold eight apartments off the plan in a week when they hit the market last month, and the developer expects to complete the warehouse-style conversion of the old Flash Palace in 2014.

The project, called Riverview Apartments, is the first cab off the rank in shop-top living for central Maitland and the developer has plans for more. 

The old Carrington Hotel had been the subject of repeated acts of vandalism until Maitland City Council stepped in.

Council carried out $50,000 of work to secure the building when Mr Kahlil was unable to financially.

A court order means Mr Kahlil will legally be required to reimburse council those funds.

Mr Thomson said the building’s recent troubles were nothing to be overly ­concerned about.

“It’s part of that issue of absentee landlords at the moment, but hopefully someone can buy it and give it a new life,” he said.