The heritage project in High Street fits with many of the central city goals and is already having a positive effect on the south-east end of the city centre.

The scheme concentrated on the block between Lichfield and Tuam streets, and aimed to give the area’s gracious Victorian/Edwardian-era buildings a facelift.

The Central City Strategy’s broad goals include an east-side focus, creating opportunities for residential and business development, pushing publicprivate partnerships, improving public spaces and looking after heritage values.

With the High Street project, Council staff brought together building owners, occupiers and representatives of the people living in the area to help plan, design and execute the scheme.

As well as painting the buildings in colours picked to highlight their architectural details, the scheme also tidied e future up wiring, and got rid of unsightly paraphernalia that had been tacked on to frontages over the years.

When it was completed in April, there was general agreement that the programme was having a positive effect. Business people along the street have said they want to use the new heritage look to promote themselves and the area as a special place to visit. As well, the scheme has contributed to the resurgence of the street’s business and community association.

Association chairman Allister Cotter says the partnership with the Council has transformed what was a rather rundown area into “a vibrant precinct which is home to a diverse central-city community and a range of innovative and contemporary small businesses.”

The Central City Mayoral Forum sees the block as a showcase for heritage precincts and its members hope other building owners will be inspired by the result.