CBD Making Places
‘CBD Making Places’ is what will bring the city’s ‘Vision CBD 2030’ alive and guide long term strategic opportunities for the CBD. Making Places is the result of extensive community workshops, focus groups, public meetings and technical analysis. Kobus Mentz presented your collective vision of how the city may shape up over the next 20 years to council.
You’ve said in the vision and workshops that our priorities are to:
- establish a connection with river,
- develop and maintain a sustainable heart for the city,
- create a place of cultural, social, & economic vitality, and
- offers a unique place that helps builds local identity.
The Making Places vision is to create a CBD that is vibrant, liveable and sustainable, and that is underpinned by quality development.
See the CBD Making Places project concept summary
We’re continually seeking community input. The Making Places reference group consists of a diverse range of people who represent the community and provide feedback to the council on the projects. The group is chaired by Lower Hutt resident Ian Pike, who has been chief executive of Wellington Waterfront for the past five years. Other members of the group represent tangata whenua; children and youth; disability groups; community organisations such as Rotary; environmental and other advocacy groups; arts, music and culture; business and retail; landowners and developers; and residents.
Five priority projects
In September councillors agreed to a five priority projects to be implemented during 2009-2010. There are nearly 200 other projects that will contribute towards Making Places over the next ten years.
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1 - Creating the Dowse SquareAn enhanced outdoor space will add vibrancy and activity into the area immediately adjacent to TheNewDowse between the District Court and the i-SITE. There is potential for this to be the beginning of a distinct arts and culture precinct in the city with more larger family based and arts related events. That naturally complement TheNewDowse. |
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2 - Building a new Margaret Street bridgeDirect motor vehicle access between SH2 & CBD may come from a potential need for second bridge as advised by the New Zealand Transport Authority. The bridge will also allow an integrated public transport between Melling, CBD, & Waterloo including easier pedestrian access from a new rail station. |
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3 - Understanding CBD transport & car parkingIt’s important that we do an advance design check of transport & parking options that can be used for the many other Making Places initiatives. Optimised solutions will explore walking, cycling, public transport, motor vehicle movement, and car parking. |
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4 - Creating a civic heart in southern High StreetEarthquake strengthening requirements of the current administration building and the immediate need for temporary offices have lead to modelling a permanent move that could create a new central civic precinct to connect the CBD with the river and provide for a fully functional library and community services hub. This presence can drive social and economic vitality in southern High St and council hopes to lead future development of the CBD along the river promenade through this lively civic precinct. It’s envisaged additional retail and commercial space can support new business development. |
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5 - Establishing a riverside promenadeIt’s likely that the stopbank along Daly Street will need to be raised by 1m and the city can take advantage of this. We’re envisaging a unique and lively promenade that will provide a distinct identity for the CBD. This will provide a very real connection to river encouraging residential, social, and economic activity on or near the CBD river banks. |
For more information about any of these projects or the Making Place Reference Group please contact Paki Maaka on 570 6798 or paki.maaka@huttcity.govt.nz