The recent New Brighton Residents Association Facebook post about a couple of land-owners inhibiting the regeneration of New Brighton retail, provoked a large social media response in support of the call for something to be done.
Informative vocal (not abusive) social media feedback can be useful in drawing media attention and the ‘Pegasus Post’ has featured the frustration in its latest August edition.
Well done to all of you passionate about the Mall and hearing your anger about these “land-bankers” generally living outside the area with little regard it seems for contributing to the New Brighton regrowth, already being driven by hard working retailers and some progressive building owners.
Link to Pegasus Post story below:
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/67143347/pegasus-post-august-11-2022
The key focus is currently on the old Savemart building as that appears still to be part of the City Council Oram Ave extension plan, but without being party to conversations between the owner and Council, it would appear we are way past the point where some agreement should have been reached as discussions began and were driven by DCL a few years back. You can read between the lines on that situation.
In the meantime, the building itself has played little part as a facility for the community and continues to deteriorate.
Coastal Councillor Celeste Donovan says her role will be to continue the support of existing retail initiatives and there are very exciting new ventures in the pipeline designed to enhance and strengthen how the New Brighton commercial hub will function as part of the regeneration.
She says lobbying landowners on the fringe will continue, in addition to getting the new rates regime applying to central city vacant land and buildings to stimulate activity, also able to be used in New Brighton as the back up to “if all else fails”.