Central City revitalisation projects – how it all fits together
On 24 August the Council receives an number of reports covering several important Central City issues. The first of these, and the overarching direction for all the following reports, is the second stage of the Central City Revitalisation Strategy. The graphic at right explains how this strategy relates to other strategies and policies and work the Council is doing in this area.
This strategy has been developed in response to community feedback, enforcing the belief that for Christchurch to be a successful city it needs a successful, vibrant and attractive Central City. The aim of the strategy is to set a course to guide central city revitalisation efforts over the next 25 years and sets an ambitious work plan for the next 10 years.
Stage One of the revitalisation strategy was pulled together in 2001 after a special forum on the Central City run by the Mayor Garry Moore and much public consultation. Stage One provided direction for much of the redevelopment and project work the council has undertaken in the Central City over the last five years. Improvements in the High/Lichfield Street area, the Council’s purchase of the former Turners and Growers site, and funding of a promotional campaign run by the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce are three of the projects to come out of stage one.
“Our Central City is vitally important to the long-term prosperity and attractiveness of Christchurch and the region as a place to live, work and play. Helping ensure this is a fundamental aim of the City Council and all our work and planning with central city issues is designed to set the framework and get community agreement about what we’re aiming to achieve,” Mr Moore says.
“The Council can’t however do this alone and that’s why, from the beginning, I’ve worked to ensure the private sector and other interested groups have a strong voice in the process.”
If approved by Council, the Central City Revitalisation Strategy Stage II will continue the vision and objectives of Stage I while filling in more of the medium- to long-term detail.
The proposed Central City Revitalisation Strategy Stage II covers issues of high priority for the Council and the public, including transport and parking, improving living conditions and the environment, safety, increasing activities, heritage retention, enhancing natural elements such as the river and improving retail and business opportunities.
When summarised, the proposed strategy has the following key priorities for the Central City:
• Increasing the residential population
• Growing the business and commercial sector
• Enhancing vital public spaces
• Redeveloping underutilised sites, and
• Improving our transport network
With these priorities in mind, the Council intends to channel energy and resources into a number of Central City projects and some of these are also being reported to Council this August.In the next few weeks the Council will also consider reports on associated Central City issues, all elements of the Central City Revitalisation Strategy. They are on:
• The City Mall redevelopment
• The possible two-waying of Lichfield Street
• A lanes development plan
• A Central City South planning and design progress report, and
• The first report on the proposed new bus exchange project.
City Mall
City Mall is one of Christchurch’s most important public spaces, but is suffering from low levels of activity which limits its viability and attractiveness. The City Mall caters to a wide variety of different people and groups, including shoppers, central city residents, students, retailers, workers, visitors and tourists. The redevelopment of the City Mall seeks to meet the needs and wishes of as many of these people as we can. We want to make sure the precinct is as active as possible day and night and therefore again becomes a great place for all.
The proposed plans are likely to include: garden rooms, extending the tram route through the mall, introducing one-way traffic to the north end of High Street, activated corners, opening up smaller streets and alleyways, a movement corridor on west Cashel Street, and improved connections to lower High Street, the Square and the Avon River.
The proposal also recommends the setting up of a retail association and management structure that will provide a higher quality and consistent service to customers.
Formal public consultation on the proposals is likely to take place from mid-September. This will include a number of public meetings and the use of retail premises in the City Mall for shoppers, city centre workers and others to study the proposals and provide feedback. Based on the response from public consultation, detailed plans will be developed, with construction expected to start in June 2007.
New bus exchange project
Since the Bus Exchange opened in 2000, bus patronage in Christchurch has grown more quickly than expected. This has lead to the Bus Exchange reaching capacity earlier than expected. For this reason the Council is looking at augmenting the service. Later this month, Council will hear back from the working party on this project.
Possible two-waying of Lichfield Street
At present many feel a one-way Lichfield Street funnelling high speed traffic through the Central City cuts off the core from the south and is therefore hindering development.This month, Council is considering options for two-waying Lichfield Street and may present two or three options for public consultation in September.
Lanes development plan
The Council has long recognised the hidden potential in the Central City’s network of lanes and alleys and has been encouraging and supportive of the private sector’s efforts to develop the lanes around Lichfield and High streets.The Council is soon likely to adopt a plan that provides a background to its interest in the redevelopment of Central City lanes and changes in their use and appearance. The plan will set goals, objectives, principles and targets for the redevelopment of lanes, plus a design guide for redevelopment projects.
Turners and Growers development
The proposal for the Turners and Growers site provides for residential accommodation, a hotel with operating winery, a retail market square, car parking and a public space running between Lichfield and Tuam streets, opening onto a “village area” and connecting to Madras Street. This proposal will increase urban living opportunities in the Central City and provide new Central City attractions.
Central City South progress report
In March 2006 the Council ran an urban planning and design workshop for the Central City South area. Since this time staff have been working with the facilitators to prepare a final report and recommendations for the future. This report will outline how the Council can implement these recommendations and start the first steps in a sustained effort at urban regeneration in this vital part of the Central City. It will require a commitment from both the private and public sectors.
• Once the Central City Revitalisation Strategy Stage Two has been agreed by Council it will be available to the public. It is important to note, however, that specific projects mentioned in the strategy still need to go through their own individual consultation and approval process if they haven’t already.
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