Exciting, even sensational was the first reaction on seeing the new concept planned for the Marine Parade foreshore at the top end of New Brighton Mall.
New Brighton Residents Association Chair Celeste Donovan says granting of resource consent for this new complex, debunks the idea nothing is happening with the regeneration of the Mall, and one of the projects currently underway.
To be known as the ‘Beach House’, developer Hayden Clavis has gone all out to come up with a plan with so many layers, it is hard to know where to start.
The complex to be built where the Wave Bar current sits and extending back into the Mall will be a mix of hospitality and retail and entertainment, but not just any kind of retail, it will be more like an artisan quarter with varied and some unique small businesses.
The hospitality side will cater to breakfast, lunch and dinner along with an upmarket bar but hand in hand with a boutique gin distillery and craft beer brewery where customers can share the experience of brewing.
One of the most exciting parts of this complex will be the covered outdoor movie screen offering free movie nights as well as a high quality gig area for live music.
Hayden says the idea is to get beyond the 9-5 nature of retail area and create a night scene, aimed at being a destination for customers from not just the Coastal area but from other parts of the city as well as travelling visitors alike.
He says this venture will be a stand-alone development and not dependent on other things going ahead putting the responsibility on himself to create this experience.
It has been carefully designed to be an attraction in itself. While bringing more people to the area in turn benefiting other surrounding business:
“A lot of research and consultancy work has gone into this over the last two years and it was not just about what New Brighton, or the Coastal region needs, but what Christchurch needs as a coastal offering’ Part of the second floor of the Beach House will be known as the ‘Glass House’ with views across Pegasus Bay to the Kaikoura ranges and will be a mixed-use space and able to hired out for private functions.
One of the key components will be the environmental input. Hayden says he was determined to reduce the carbon footprint of the Beach House on a number of levels, from the design to materials, to how it will function once running. An example is organic recycling on site and tenant operating procedures.
Hayden has said there is still some ways to go, and getting a Resource Consent from the City Council is fantastic, but a step of many with further hurdles yet to be negotiated.
NBRA’s Celeste Donovan says Hayden Clavis is one of a new breed of landowners setting new templates for the future of New Brighton, but he contributes to the area now and is one of the sponsors to the ‘Brighten Up Brighton’ day scheduled for October 10th.
(Concept plans to follow soon)