Changes coming to Central City

The opening of a Starbucks cafe in the old Chief Post Office was a catalyst for similar businesses to move in.

Changes have been made to the heart of Christchurch in such a short time — and much of the change has flowed from the work of the Central City Mayoral Forum.

The Forum was formally formed last year and, while not all changes can be slotted home to the Forum, big changes have taken place.

There has been the redevelopment of Cathedral Square, the new Bus Exchange, The Crossing, and the Discovery School now rising on top of the Arthur Barnett building.

Also, the building of a three-storey retail redevelopment on the corner of Lichfield and Colombo streets is under way.

Canterbury University has moved a department into the Bellamys section of the Provincial Council Chambers and a High Street refurbishment programme between Manchester and Madras streets has started.

Free parking for the first hour in three City Council parking buildings is under way and a Starbucks cafe has opened in the old Central Post Office.

As a result of the Starbucks’ move an Internet cafe and an art gallery quickly established themselves in the same building.

The Strip in Oxford Terrace is now a busy thoroughfare.

Listed heritage buildings in the central city can now qualify for a grant for increases in rates for restoration schemes costing more than $50,000.

A hi-tech school has been established in the MFL building.

All these changes in the revitalisation of the central city have come after careful planning.

After the Forum was formed (it now has 14 members with other committees) a discussion document, called Focus on the Heart, was produced that set out the vision.

This identified the important issues and nearly 1000 public responses were received after its publication.

The document sets out short-term visions and is stage one. Other projects are in the pipeline.

A Chinese-English language school for several hundred Chinese high school students is planned.

There is also the One-Stop Shop to be created in the Our City centre in the old Municipal Chambers to enable all those interested in Council projects, particularly in the Central City, to get information in one place.

A proposal to upgrade three unused old buildings in Bedford Row is under way and the provision of a produce market is being investigated. Latimer Square is also being examined to see what residents would prefer with changes and work is progressing on the suggestion to swap around the one-way streets of Lichfield and Tuam.

The unpaid Forum members are at the same time tackling proposals for the long-term view of changes to the Central City. These stage two ideas will be presented over the coming months to the new Council.

This logo will seen in association with projects to do with the revitalisation of our Central City. It will be used in conjunction with the logos of organisations/businessesinvolved with the specific project.

Investing in the Central City

People ask why should time, money and effort be spent on the Central City.

A key objective of the City Plan is "to maintain and enhance the Central City as the principle commercial, administrative, employment, cultural and tourism focus of the City, and the venue for a diverse range of activities" — the central city affects the city as a whole.

Although the Central City has been in decline for a number of years, it is in a reasonably good shape compared to a number of cities elsewhere.

However, the threat of an unhealthy central city is very real.

Elsewhere in the world, a city lacking a healthy heart has been likened to the hole in the middle of a doughnut.

In such cities, there’s nothing of substance left in the middle — everything that people consider to be important to their lives, their work and their play, can no longer be found there.

Christchurch doesn't want its Central City to be the hole in the doughnut. But there is a danger it could happen if the right planning and community involvement isn't put in place now.

Why bother?

Christchurch has to maintain its infrastructure, such as the piping of water, the removal of sewerage and waste, and roading. The cost for these services is spread across the city. If the valuation of proper-ties in the Central City declined the rate take would go down. The result would be an increase in the rates charged in the suburbs.

If the Central City were to become less desirable the whole city would become less viable.

This would mean that Christchurch and the Canterbury region, increasingly enjoying the economic benefits of tourism, would see a downturn in this area.

The Central City is vital to Christchurch tourism — tourists make up about 17 per cent of Central City users and this percentage is increasing.

The majority of tourists often use accommodation in the Central City — resent research identified shopping as being the largest expenditure item. Tourists enjoy experiencing and exploring central cities, which all have unique characteristics, unlike much of the suburbs and suburban shopping centres.

The Central City also offers different and unique shopping.

The Central City is where much of the city of Christchurch started and remains home to about 50 per cent of our recognised heritage locations. To ignore this means we could well lose much of our history and identity.

To ignore the Central City completely could allow it, over several years, to deteriorate into an undesirable and unsafe area.

These areas don’t recognise boundaries and can spread outward into other parts of the city.

The Central City has a connection with many suburbs helping to link many of the villages that make up our city.

It is also the heart of Christchurch. It is important for Christchurch to have a meeting place for its citizens, a sense of community and an identity.

Related Information
Central City Project | The Mayor's Forum