Two buildings that survived Hiroshima nuclear attacks might get demolished

The Hiroshima nuclear attack that took numerous lives (about 80000 dead) and wiped out the city, left a few buildings, destroyed, but still standing. Now, Japan plans to demolish two such buildings that survived the 1945 atomic bombing. But some locals are not happy with the decision.
According to reports, the two blocks were built in 1913 and were used as a military clothing factory. Later, it was transformed into a university student accommodation, and after the bombing, the building was also used as a makeshift hospital. The two building blocks said to have survived because they were constructed using reinforced concrete. The two buildings are as of now, are not open to the public, and are likely to collapse in case of an earthquake.


The local government in Hiroshima is looking to demolish the buildings by 2022; however, a third building that had also survived will be repaired and preserved.
But now there is an online petition that is against the demolition of the buildings, and according to the local government, they have received a petition signed by about 12000 citizens, who would like to see them preserved. Three of the four buildings that are still standing are under the governance of local authorities, while the rest of the property is owned by the national government.

In case of preservation, the total cost to preserve all three buildings would cost about 8.4 billion yen. Instead, the local authorities want to demolish two of them, and preserve one at the cost of 1.4 - 3.1 billion yen.