Thu Nov 10, 2016 11:25 pm
The current owner is, I think, is from the same family who built it - the Rapports - whose traditional business (watchmaking) is HQd in the building. Now, they could have their little admin and marketing team in another office suite. Their manufacturing happens elsewhere (not sure if it ever was in this building).
So why might they want to 'tear it down'? Put simply its a small poorly-specified building on a plot that could take a much bigger and more valuable building. They naturally want to get the most out of whats probably their biggest asset - the city centre land they inherited and own. Their forefathers built this and its now outlived its business purpose.
I agree its a shame when we pull down good quality old buildings, especially when there are few from that era. But, I don't see this building as that high quality. And if as society we want such buildings preserved, society should pay for it - compensating the private owners for the loss they therefore suffer.