DARWIN’S eyesore Chan Building is on borrowed time, with demolition expected soon.

The Government will undertake a six-month “masterplan” to redevelop Civic and State squares, after which the Chan Building will be knocked down.

Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler was yesterday unable to give a time frame for its destruction, given the complexities of shifting the government IT servers housed beneath it to a new location.

The masterplan, to be carried out by Taylor Cullity Lethlean with input from local firm Troppo Architects, Hully Liveris Design Com Pty Ltd, and Irwin Consult Engineering, will look at locations for a planned art gallery in State Square.

Ms Lawler said the Government had learned from the failure of its Myilly Point museum project and from the difficulties around the planned Alice Springs indigenous art gallery.

“The Government has learned you do need to take your time; you do need to take people with you and that you’re very clear with what you want to see,” she said.

Ms Lawler said the gallery would provide an opportunity to display works currently in storage at MAGNT.

The CBD redevelopment is part of the 10-year $200 million Darwin City Deal.