In a separate post (below) have talked about ‘Smart Poles’ and here to elaborate how these fit with where we are with the upgrade of the commercial hub…
As part of the last ‘Long Term Plan’ money was set aside for an improvement of streetscapes to 2031.
In the most recent Annual Plan some $300k has been released for an infrastructure upgrade of the upper part of the Mall. A significant amount of that will be spent underground on services including water, power and internet. This is the space where the weekly market continues to operate and extends into the ‘Village Green’.
The Smart Poles come in at this point as there is a desire to include one or two depending on budget and connections installed.
The City Council planners have started that process and we may see a start late on some of that stuff later this year.
In a separate project and in association will be the demolition of the Westpac Bank building around Sept-October and that walk-through is to be asphalted. This north-south space will not just be a pedestrian thoroughfare but also a place for people to sit/relax and there will be items of interest to see from street art to possible sculptures.
The importance of this link is the connection to the ‘Village Green’ where that team has been working very hard to put the last pieces of final design and ongoing management together.
Robbie Harris (one of the owners of the top end building blocks), is now seeking retail tenants for the new concept plans almost completed for his project and underway in 2024/25.
Potential retail tenants please contact him on:
robbie@martiniharris.co.nz