Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp has renewed his call for the NSW Government to protect the former Wickham School of Arts building in development of the final part of Honeysuckle.
Mr Crakanthorp has long pushed for a commitment to keep and restore the 1882 building, to ensure it isn't demolished like The Store.
The Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC) has opened the final three hectares of land at Honeysuckle for expressions of interest from developers, which incorporates the building.
HCCDC is working to replace the building's roof, gutters and downpipes, and repair the facade. But no commitment has been given to incorporating the building into the final precinct plans.
Mr Crakanthorp said that the community had made its views about the building clear.
"The former Wickham School of Arts has local heritage significance and the community has been very clear that they want to see this heritage retained and honoured," he said.
"This is how we end the uncertainty around the building's future and secure its future once-and-for-all.
"The last thing we want is to see a repeat of what happened to The Store."
HCCDC said it was "asking developers to incorporate the building into their proposals, provide adaptive reuse and run a design competition for the inclusion of public space adjacent to the former Wickham School of Arts building".
"Any development proposals not considering adaptive reuse would need to demonstrate superior outcomes and explain how they will address the heritage value of the building," the corporation said.
