Mall work under way
The first step in the revitalisation of the City Mall has begun, with the design team off to a flying start.
At the end of March, the City Council appointed Isthmus Group as consultant to redesign the central city mall.
At the time, Isthmus Group director Garth Falconer said there was no question that urgent steps needed to be taken, but, "in a deliberate and constructive manner, involving all key stakeholders".
The project team wanted to make the most of input from local businesses and residents from day one of a design programme that is expected to take six month, Mr Falconer said.
"It's imperative we have a full and frank exchange of opinions before we start firming up on broad concepts."
To achieve this, the design team has been holding meetings with stakeholders -- from land owners to students at City Mall's two schools, Discovery One and Unlimited. Team members say this feedback is useful and will help to guide their design work.
At present, the team is working on several design concepts and hopes to show these to the public in a few weeks' time.
David West, a retail consultant from Adelaide and part of the team of consultants Isthmus has drawn together, has been compiling facts and figures on the state of City Mall.
Vacancy levels are just 8.5 per cent for the more than 400 stores in the total study area bounded by Lichfield, Oxford, Hereford and Manchester streets.
Vacancies in the mall itself, excluding arcades, are actually at international benchmark levels. Only 4% of some 80 stores in City Mall are currently vacant.
Mr West's research revealed an extensive rangeof shops. "I was really impressed with the quality and presentation of stores I found when I was conducting my research," he said.
"While focusing on a specific area of Christchurch, the City Mall project has broad implications for the central city and the city as a whole. Its renovation is an important, lynch-pin project within the wider central city revitalisation strategy."
Mayor Garry Moore says of the project, "We are urging everyone with an interest in the City Mall to get involved in the design process."
- The Council, as part of its long-term community plan process, is proposing to fund a portion of the cost of the refurbishment of the City Mall through a targeted rate struck against businesses within the four avenues.
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