A LONGSTANDING city centre eyesore could be bought by the Hull City Council with the aim of demolishing it.
The crumbling former New York Hotel in Anlaby Road has been empty for more than a decade.
Safety fears over its condition were raised two years ago when a window fell from the derelict building, smashing onto a nearby bus shelter.
Now, deputy city council leader Councillor Daren Hale has confirmed the authority intends to buy the privately owned property with a view to bulldozing it.
He said: "There is an aspiration within the council to acquire the old hotel.
"Whether that is through a direct purchase or compulsory purchase remains to be seen.
"However, it is clear the situation cannot be left to drag on any more.
"As many people have pointed out, the building is the first thing visitors to the city see when leaving the railway station via Anlaby Road.
"First impressions count and I'm afraid what's there at the moment does not give a good impression of the city.
"The City Plan is all about changing people's perception of Hull and if we can get rid of this eyesore then I don't think anyone will be complaining."
Budget proposals being put forward by the council's ruling Labour group for the coming year include a £1.2m allocation to improve derelict and rundown sites in the city.
Cllr Hale confirmed the New York Hotel acquisition would be funded from this budget, subject to final approval by councillors.
He said the authority was working with officials from the Goodwin Development Trust over possible future options for the site.
The trust operates a training centre in an adjacent building.
The Labour budget proposals also include another £400,000 being set aside to improve some of the main routes into Hull.
The former New York Hotel site is believed to be owned by a London development company.
Planning permission to build a new 124-bed hotel at the site was granted in 2008.
However, that permission expired almost three years ago and there has been no subsequent attempt to secure new planning approval.
A recent council report suggested the cost of demolishing the building could be as much as £250,000.
