This is my equation: ‘People + money = retail’… and the current push in New Brighton behind the scenes, is for MORE housing.
There has been an intense focus on the Oram Ave extension, and is retail orientated, with Oram Ave to be the western side of a compressed New Brighton commercial hub.
Note: (This is an opinion piece, and a view of one member of the New Brighton Residents Association, but as a group has a vested interest in our local citizens).
That project has money set aside and is on the current City Council designation, and part of the long-standing mall regeneration plan, but there is a lot of work required before announcements can be made around commercially sensitive agreements with land-owners etc. Progress continues (yes it has been painfully slow).
Equally important is the development of housing in the inner New Brighton sanctum, and as the Christchurch City retail is struggling in some sectors due to the lack of people living in the central area, one mistake our coastal suburb cannot afford to make.
Luckily a number of coastal developers have recognised this, along with the current drive for home ownership accessibility, and the Government behind pushing for all its worth.
New Brighton Residents Association brought the news of town houses destined for the old Esplanade Tavern site.
There are likely to be apartments above some of the retail projects within the Mall (including the Wave Bar site ?)
It is anticipated in the next month or two there will be an announcement of the successful builder of the housing on the old school site.
There has been quite a bit of interest in the Beresford St carparks destined for townhouses/apartments.
One or two houses along Marine Parade are about to go under the demolition ball to be replaced by valuable beach front accommodation.
Even the New Brighton Rugby Club has joined the action, and below is an image of the 6 units it is going to build on the three properties along Rawhiti Avenue. Construction should start in the next 2-3 months and there will be great interest from buyers to live between Rawhiti Domain and Golf Course and the beach.
New residents are drawn to New Brighton due to a bloody good lifestyle and tight community, the revitalised shopping centre will be energised by consumer demand.
Mind you while saying this, and using a mathematic equation, I just scraped through School Cert algebra.
