The time has come to call out a few landowners in the New Brighton commercial hub and challenge them to make a difference.
There are very positive signs of life within and ‘Carnaby Lane’, ‘121 the Barn’ and the ‘105 Artisan Emporium’ and Putterland are all examples what came be achieved in existing buildings, and there are exuberant new landowners at the foreshore end of the mall with great plans/ideas.
On the other side of the coin, recent bad weather has resulted in four complaints to the New Brighton Residents Assn (NBRA) in the last three days and same types of issues over previous months and years in relation to either unsafe buildings or ground conditions.
NBRA is not naming or shaming the owners as that can be counterproductive and we are ever hopeful it can be turned around.
Recent incidents involve potholes in at least one section of the New Brighton Mall car park, where two persons (one elderly) fell over trying to negotiate these last Tuesday. It may take a health and safety prosecution to get these filled as they continue to deteriorate and to be frank, unacceptable.
The second is the material blowing off buildings and this time it was a small piece of guttering blowing down and across the carpark luckily with only a lone seagull having to take evasive action.
Earlier this year a more substantial piece fell from one site close to people standing at a money machine and capable of seriously injuring both.
Some of the derelict buildings leak and black mould has grown within and should not be entered except if properly masked up.
The real issue is many of the major owners are absentee and the buildings largely vacant and in need of repair with the worst examples dotted from the west side of Shaw Av eastwards
One or two of these rundown buildings show no indication of anything changing after more than a decade and led to several detrimental effects during those years:
• Arson incidents, although sadly one of those involved an occupied retail store.
• Vandalism, and we had an example just in the past week where major windows were smashed in a vacant building.
• A while ago one retailer narrowly being hit by bricks thrown out of a window by intruders within.
• Inhibiting Mall growth potential for those existing retailers and landlords to looking invest and expand.
• Making it harder for the City Council’s plans to meet its Long-Term Plan goals and deadlines.
• The recalcitrant landlords have cost greater New Brighton and the longer this situation continues, will continue to impede the rate of progress being made.
• The former DCL (Development Christchurch Ltd) and City Council have unsuccessfully tried direct negotiations with the land owning hold-outs over the years
• The impression is ‘they’ have little intention to improve or develop and no intention to sell unless the Council or in effect the ratepayer or anybody digs financially deep.
• A number of business owners have simply given up trying to get negotiate a reasonable rent and repair. As an example, at the beginning of the year one potential retailer verbally negotiated a rent on a vacant building, only for the absentee landowner to read a favourable newspaper story about New Brighton, increase the lease, and the other party walking away.
When approached for comment, Coastal Councillor Celeste Donovan says she wants the same rating scheme to penalise central Christchurch property owners who don’t keep their vacant sites tidy… to apply to New Brighton.
On the other hand, she believes all landowners realise the regeneration of retail is good for everyone and negotiation is still the best way forward.
The regeneration should be going a lot faster after 12 years lack of traction, and she says there is a case to look at other measures.
A result of a recent Council vote, central city property owners will be charged four times the standard general rate if there is no active or consented use being made of the land.
On the other hand, owners will be able to apply for a rates remission if they improve the appearance of their site and keep it tidy and well maintained.
They will also be able to apply for a rates remission if their plans to develop or build are in the consenting process.
Ms Donovan says there are some vacant buildings in the New Brighton business hub actively advertising for tenants meaning the owners are at least looking.
“There are other initiatives in the pipeline to provide wider support and one of these is ‘Town Team’ I am pushing to become reality here.”
She says, “I am always available to talk to any landowner or investor as that costs nothing.”
The New Brighton Residents Association made a similar plea to the Coastal Burwood Community Board in 2019, and says the current lack of action cannot continue and it while it only applies to a minority with a large stake holding, the time has come.