Christchurch Central City Strategy
Community Feedback September – December 2000
OVERVIEW OF FEEDBACK
The following feedback addresses the most consistent issues to emerge from the community consultation for the Central City Strategy Discussion Document through September – December 2000.
Meetings were held across the City and included Central City Residents Associations, Sub-urban resident meetings arranged through the Community Boards, specific “Interest Sector” meetings (such as Central City Retail) and a small number of neighbourhood group meetings with resident groups who had an strong desire to view the Strategy presentation. Whilst not a comprehensive consultation of the City, the Strategy Team did effectively begin what is likely to be an ongoing discussion with the residents of the city on the future of the Central City.
The feedback is presented in the same format as was set out in the Discussion Document and the accompanying presentation used by the Central City Strategy Team. This provides consistency with the Discussion Document but, more importantly, reflects the focus of the discussions that followed each presentation.
The feedback has been represented in three categories:
1) KEY ISSUES AND PRIORITIES TO EMERGE The recurring and consistent issues raised by residents at the community meetings.
2) ISSUES OF CONCERN Particular issues that reflect the range of concern’s residents had with regards to the Central City and the proposed Strategy.
3) GATHERING IDEAS A collection of valuable and interesting ideas that emerged from the feedback highlighting the immediate responses of residents to the Central City Strategy and possibilities for future initiatives and project areas for the Strategy.
To be included: 4) RECCOMENDATIONS A brief set of suggestions based on the experience of undertaking this initial round of consultation, towards an ongoing engagement with the public and interest sectors as the Strategy develops.
5) APPENDIX Meeting Minutes from which this feedback was gathered.
1. KEY ISSUES AND PRIORITIES TO EMERGE
Central City Neighbourhood Precincts
½ Protecting existing character of Central City neighbourhoods
½ Creating local areas of interest using art, history, public and green space
½ Planning guidelines and controls on development. To avoid inappropriate development such as: - big box retailing such as Rebel Sports - big box residential such as Park Tce - Townhouse development in the East
½ Infill housing being driven by speculation not by demand - having a significant impact on the neighbourhoods in the Central City
½ Ensuring a mix of housing within the Central City - protecting rental housing and tenants, particularly in the East - too many new townhouse developments change the character of neighbourhoods
½ Providing quality affordable housing – because the private sector won’t do it
½ Older run down rental housing in the East – partnerships required to encourage Landlords to lift standards
½ Neighbourhood Planning – a strong desire from Residents to be involved in the planning of their neighbourhood strategies - desire for planning to focus on local (street by street) level of detail
½ Planning process with communities seen as a way to strengthen a sense of community within Central City neighbourhoods (Avon Loop as a precedent)
½ Creating ‘pocket’ neighbourhood precincts based on pedestrian linkages and common open spaces
½ Pockets of isolation within the City Centre that need to addressed
½ Current pattern of development is restricting opportunities to create open space areas
½ Letting local character evolve where it happens - areas such as High Street through the influence of the Polytechnic
Green Liveable Streets
½ Consistent enthusiasm for the greening of streets in the Central City - Singapore, Adelaide & Stockholm were some of the examples given of cities with green liveable streets that have a wonderful impact of the city as a whole
½ Strong desire to see one-way streets ‘calmed’ through effective tree planting
½ Protecting trees and spaces of significance to local neighbourhoods
½ A “green space network” - providing green pedestrian linkages for people, cyclists, and to walking the dog
½ An indicative green space plan of how greening is to be undertaken in the Central City
½ Using different planting treatments to identify different neighbourhood precincts within the Central City - using natives such as Kowhai, or Willows as a unique feature of Christchurch
½ Trees in Colombo Street struggling - wide footpaths to provide space for trees to become part of the streetscape - placing more mature trees in streets to avoid vandalism
½ Latimer Square a green space to the East that is under utilised - enthusiasm for opening waterways and making water a feature in the square - holding more events such as an art / craft market in the square - interest in options for art or buildings in the square
½ Clean Streets a major concern for many Central City residents - narrow streets are not getting cleaned as trucks can’t manoeuvre down them - a broom suggested as an alternative cleaning option for narrow streets
½ Greening the Square
½ Ensure the ecological qualities of the Central City are not overlooked in this process
Business & Retail
½ Developing a point of difference from the suburban malls seen as critical - retail standard seen as more consistent in the malls - greater variety of retail, however, in the Central City - “reclaiming Friday night” as an example of the Central City’s point of difference
½ Consistency of trading hours for retail a priority - capturing the 56% of workers who come to the Central City each day
½ The significance of Tourism to Central City retail - how much accommodation provided within the Four Aves. ? - need to manage the impact and plan to enhance the benefits of tourism
½ Rental for paved areas outside shops currently too expensive for smaller retailers
½ An imbalance to the Central City with Supermarkets only in the South
½ A lack of business opportunities to the East - planning requirements often too difficult to work with
½ Partnerships with businesses to facilitate the re-use of buildings - providing incentives - the Strip seen as a good example of a successful partnership - most vacant buildings on the cold side of the street - Absentee building owners make for difficult partnership options - Council requirements often make the upgrade of building too difficult
½ Art based initiatives such as Bob’s Your Uncle need to be supported in the East
½ Business activity above the ground floor of retail – what’s happening? - whose starting new businesses in the Central City? - where, why, and who?
½ Rents in the Central City are high and often require a commitment to a long tenure, such as six years. - Council needs to support businesses seeking to establish in the City Centre
½ Bank frontages onto the square creating a sterile environment
Linkages, Access & Traffic
½ Building linkages between distinct areas within the Central City - Victoria Square and the Cathedral Square - South City and Cashel Mall - the Arts Centre and Cathedral Square
½ Desire for well identified cycleways and pedestrian walkways through the Central City - Armagh St as a ‘cycle Street’
½ A lack of wheelchair ramps and access in the square
½ Attracting people to the East of the Central City - Heritage walkways - Cultural events - extending the tram
½ The Shuttle service received consistent praise with a strong desire to see it extended - north to PEETO and Pico (Barbadoes & Kilmore Sts) - south down Colombo St to Beckenham to provide a accessible link to residents
½ Building linkages with neighbourhoods and shopping strips on the perimeter of the Four Avenues - Colombo St through to Sydenham - Lincoln Rd through to Addington - Sherbourne St through to Edgeware - Gloucester & Worcester through to Linwood
½ Linking the Avon River with New Regent St to Gloucester St to Liverpool St
½ Linking the Basilica & Music Centre to High St
½ Linking the City to the Sea
½ Creating events that build and consolidate these linkages - “City to Surf” an example
½ One Way Streets came up consistently with speed identified as the major problem for residents - traffic calming a priority especially on One Way’s (25-35kms) - phasing lights to ensure smooth flow of traffic at lower speeds - road narrowing and pavement widening to aid traffic calming
½ One Way streets perceived to be good at moving traffic through the city - however, raised the issue of ‘through’ traffic in Central City - redirecting through traffic around the city centre
½ Concern over the impact of traffic flows from the East along Linwood Ave, Gloucester St and Avonside Drive
½ Avonside Drive perceived as an important linkage with the Central City as a natural extension of the promenade - desire to see Avonside Drive retained as a minor arterial rather than a major thoroughfare
½ Greater control over dangerous driving areas - closing Cambridge Tce between Churchill and Barbadoes Sts - closing Oxford Tce between Barbadoes and Kilmore Sts
½ “How the Council deals with traffic will determine the success of the Strategy”
½ Parking was another consistent issue to emerge from the meetings
½ Parking a hassle in the Central City, a major reason for the attraction of the malls to residents
½ Free parking in weekends (90-120minutes) strongly suggested
½ Parking buildings seen as under utilised, another potential free parking option in weekends
½ Putting parking buildings on the perimeter of the Four Avenues to facilitate park and ride linkages with the Shuttle suggested regularly
½ Perception of limited on-street parking in Central City
½ Limited loading zone areas for business access
½ The Convention Centre has created parking congestion in the NW business area
The River Promenade
½ Greeted with enthusiasm at all the meetings
½ Protecting natural amenity and heritage areas through passive development along the river
½ Promenade could be extended along both sides of the river - linking activity and public spaces
½ Opening up waterways in the East was equally greeted with enthusiasm - a water feature in Latimer Square
½ Extending the Promenade beyond the Four Avenues over time - planning for the extension - Avonside Drive seen as too congested and a natural part of this extension
Heritage Priority Areas
½ Protecting heritage areas from low quality development
½ Avon loop and High Street Precinct as positive precedents for the Central City
½ Many trees are important features of local neighbourhoods and streetscapes
½ Heritage designation can raise rentals for buildings and make them harder to refurbish
½ A strategic approach to Heritage purchasing and priority areas - “can’t save every building”
½ Identifying Heritage buildings two years in advance so that developers can respond
½ Desire to see heritage precincts prioritised rather than individual buildings
½ The Basilica is a neglected heritage icon in the Central City - creating linkages with Polytechnic and High St to uplift the profile of the Basilica
½ Heritage precincts such as High St were consistently endorsed as a pro-active way forward
2. ISSUES OF CONCERN
Safety
½ Perceived fear of the Central City amongst many residents, particularly at night
½ Many elderly, in particular, are fearful of the Central City - skateboarders seen as a hazard (especially in Victoria Square)
½ The ‘seedy’ side of Christchurch undermines the Central City as a family friendly environment
½ Very few children live in the Central City. Based on the perception that it is not a safe or easy place to bring up children
½ Planning areas and activity on behalf of youth, without their involvement, the Central City will continue to be perceived as unsafe
½ More street lighting
½ More people living in the Central City
Gentrification of the East
½ A consistent concern
½ Must ‘include’ existing residents in the development of the strategy and project initiatives to the East of the Central City
½ Priority to address the neglect of the East
½ 85% of properties in the East area owned by absentee landlords
½ The high number of people who have small ‘bedsit’ rental accommodation in the East; how will they have a voice in the Strategy? - the social structure of the East could be broken down through the displacement of people who can only afford cheap rental accommodation
½ The capacity to say when “enough is enough” to the development of particular areas of the Central City
Noise
½ A recurring issue for central city residents, particularly on the West
½ Perceived as an issue that is likely to get worse as a consequence of future development of the City Centre
½ The strip and the summer festival in Hagley Park have a significant impact on residents
Clean Streets
½ A real frustration for central city residents
½ Narrow streets seldom cleaned (at least this is the perception)
½ Should be a priority for Council to help promote the Central City as an attractive place to live, work, play etc…
The Process
½ Working through the central city process and planning with respect to local community concerns - Park Tce development (to the West) and Bob’s Your Uncle (to the East) two examples where central city communities feel they have been badly let down by Council
½ Ensuring and developing good communication links with residents, neighbourhoods and community organisations to build the goodwill upon which a successful strategy will be based
½ Lack of consultation over issues such as planting in the square and the impact on businesses - eg: Warners building
½ Concern over consultation and the potential for raising expectation over “white elephants”
½ Lack of consultation with youth - opportunities to work with organisations like the Canterbury Youth Workers Collective
½ Profile through the Discussion Document is “very white and affluent”
½ The need to keep the language used as simple and clear as possible
½ Council perceived as the upholding the viewpoints of residents in addressing development
½ Council “needs the courage to enforce its vision for the growth of the city”
½ Leadership from Council will create interest and investment
½ Concern as to how the Council will actually deliver on the Central City strategy
½ Need to create a sense of equitable balance to spending across the City - neighbourhood precinct development seen as a method of doing this
½ A consistent perception of the need to “get on with it!” - belief that the Central City can’t wait two more years for attention
The People
½ Consistently understood to be the focus of the strategy
½ A pro-active and considered strategy for attracting people to the City Centre
½ Many artists have left the City through the lack of opportunity
½ Neighbourhood development seen as the key to a cohesive revitalisation of the City Centre
½ Concern that central City communities don’t have the resources to confront developers with proposals out of keeping with neighbourhoods
½ A central city Residents forum to assist the neighbourhood planning process
½ Representation on the Forum on behalf of the 108 ethnic minorities who live in the City
The Big Picture
½ Creating cultural diversity and a diversity of housing understood to be a primary goal of the strategy
½ Concern over the impact of zoning and planning initiatives over time - how the city has been decentralised - how will it be consolidated?
½ Concern over the Council capacity to deliver given current events such as: - Park Tce development and the proposed mall in Addington
½ Balancing a now decentralised City. - A low density “white hole” in the Centre - How to revitalise the central city when growth is now established throughout the sub- urban areas
½ Develop a strategy that is unique to Christchurch - Don’t just replicate US and European precedent’s - Work with the existing fabric of the City - Respond to the unique character of the Central city - Reinforce the Garden City character and image of Christchurch
½ Design guidelines for new housing to protect character areas such as Avon Loop - Central City lacks design guidelines that can be enforced - Critical in defining the character of the Central City and managing growth
½ Re-establish the greenbelt to the North to help give definition to the City
½ “When the Central City becomes a desirable place to live, many of the issue will solve themselves”
3. GATHERING IDEAS
Neighbourhood Precincts
½ Planning workshops with local residents to develop neighbourhood plans for the Central City
½ A Central City Residents Forum to meet quarterly as part of the development of the strategy
½ An Inner City Marae
½ A Central City Housing Association to liaise with landlords and developers, people looking for accommodation and advocating on behalf of poorer residents in rental accommodation
Business & Retail
½ The One Stop Shop for developers, property owners and businesses received strong support
½ Promoting housing as an option for under-utilised first floors of Central City buildings
½ Public art as a prerequisite for any future development proposals
½ A produce market for the Central City
½ An art / craft market for the East, possibly in Latimer Square
Green Liveable Streets
½ More facilities that are free to encourage public activity - street chess sets
½ Creative options for green space – car parks, roof top gardens
½ The old bus Depot as a potential green space to the East
½ Armagh St as a cycle dominant street
½ Planting semi-mature trees, grown in local nurseries until ready for replanting
½ A guideline for development, originally from David Yenken, that building height be set by the height of highest tree in any district
½ Turning the one ways into tree lined Avenues
Linkages
½ Extending the shuttle service within the four Avenues
½ Extending the shuttle down Colombo St to link the south of the City to the Centre
½ A transport link – the Tram – from the Central City to New Brighton
½ A green belt extension from the Central City to the sea
River Promenade
½ Closing Cambridge Tce between Churchill and Barbadoes Streets
½ Closing Cambridge Tce between Antigua and Montreal Streets
½ A cycleway along the Avon River to the Sea
Heritage Areas
½ Designating the Four Avenues as a Special Amenity Area
½ A series of plaques informing people of the Heritage buildings, places and events within the Four Avenues
½ Redo the exterior façade of the WINZ building in High Street as a feature of the High Street heritage precinct
½ Creating a clear vista from High Street through to the Basilica
The Square
½ Opening up ground floor office space around the Square for more creative re-use
½ A water feature in the Square
½ Lack of wheelchair ramps in the Square
The Process
½ The proposed Built Environment Centre – make it a home for the Central City Strategy
½ Investment in a multi-cultural centre as part of the cultural focus of the strategy
½ A young person on the Central City Forum
½ Should Central City residents’ rates pay for the Strategy?
½ Using local artists to paint murals and create public art in vacant parts of the city centre
½ Using local artists to engage and promote activities with the communities of the Central City
½ Creating more studio space for Artists in the Central City
½ “Tagging Parks” for young people to enhance their creative skills beyond just tagging. Could be a feature as with skateboard parks
½ A need for more underage activities and venues within the Central City
½ Christchurch as the design centre of excellence for New Zealand