Murray & Co. — auctioneers, estate agents and valuers — have moved to a new address in Mandaveli.
One of the last surviving auctioneers in the city, the company has been operating out of the dilapidated United India building on Anna Salai for the past eight decades.
The old building is said to have been designed as a Masonic lodge a century ago, according to Hemant Srivatsa, partner, Murray & Co. “The traffic diversions for Metro Rail work had an impact on normal functioning. Parking became difficult,” he said.
Murray & Co. has now shifted its furniture and curios department to 4, Norton Road, in Mandaveli.
“Any move is for the better. The company is not a purely commercial entity. It is a service rendered to the Madras society and it will continue,” said Mr. Srivatsa.
The United India building is in proximity to many heritage buildings such as Bharat Insurance building. But experts on the heritage conservation committee said the old structure was not on the list of heritage buildings.
There is a warning notice on the dilapidated building.
It reads: “It is hereby warned that this property United India Building (old) situated at Anna Salai has developed cracks and is in a dilapidated condition and unsafe for occupation... In the event of any untoward mishap or accident, LIC of India shall not be responsible for any injury, loss of life or damage to property either to the inmates or visitors to the premises or to passers by.”
Some of the other occupants of the old building are yet to vacate the decades-old dilapidated structure.
