Central City Strategy

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

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