The new-look Christchurch CBD unveiled

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New-look Christchurch CBD unveiled

3News NZ

Prime Minister John Key presented a three-minute video showing a bird’s eye view of the new city

Prime Minister John Key presented a three-minute video showing a bird’s eye view of the new city

By Hamish Clark

Cantabrians will tonight finally get to find out what their new city will look like.

Prime Minister John Key was at the City Council headquarters this evening for the launch of the new CBD, where he presented a three-minute video showing a bird’s eye view of the new city.

It is a compact, green city centre.

“I think it’s a very good plan,” Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee told media today.

In the wake of the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, over 70 percent of buildings in the central city have been, or will be, demolished.

Christchurch residents were called on to put forward ideas of what their new city should look like. They responded with over 106,000 ideas for the blueprint and the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan.

The new compact CBD will be made up of 12 anchor projects, framed by a corridor of green, wide open space.

“I think it is a brilliant plan,” says Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker . “It lays the framework for our future and we finally have a definitive plan.”

The green frame will start at the Avon River at Kilmore St and stretch nine blocks – 1200 metres – south to Saint Asaph St, then along another four blocks west to Montreal St, back to the river.

It will pass beside Latimer Square and cut through where the Newstalk ZB building is to be blown up.

The convention centre, one of the key anchor projects, will be in the heart of the city.

It will take over the entire Farmers block and go over the top of Glouchester St and into the square.

“We are looking for two hotels that are part of the convention centre,” Christchurch City Central Development director Warwick Isaacs said.

If the Town Hall isn’t able to be saved, a new performing arts precinct including the Court Theatre and music centre will run opposite Victoria Square up to Armargh St and along to New Regent St.

Affected property owners and developers are supportive of the new plan.

“I think it is very visionary,” says commercial property developer Anthony Gough .

“I think it is very supportive. Some of my properties fall into the ‘to be bought or required by the Crown’, I am relaxed about that. I know there will be fair dealings.”

“Ideally we would have liked to develop it ourselves, but we feel in the best interests of Christchurch we are quite happy with the decision,” says commercial property owner Dean Marshall .

The first job will be acquiring the land, with the first project to get underway being the river precinct along the Avon.

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Comments

1/08/2012 7:59:55 p.m.

David wrote:

A theme park would be an excellent idea. Especially when an earthquake goes off, it'll add more to the fear factor.

31/07/2012 4:37:37 a.m.

Kevin M wrote:

Appears there are still areas where it will never be safe to build on.

30/07/2012 9:15:37 p.m.

Sarah wrote:

I am so very excited about what is planned for our new city! It feels like there is light at the end of the tunnel rather than ongoing dispair as our broken city and people have struggled to cope! I acknowledge there are people (like ourselves) still living in cold, damaged homes that urgently need repairing but we also need as a city to start making money to pay for things rather than bleeding constantly. No plan will ever be perfect but I feel we HAVE been listened to and they have strived to incorporate our ideas while making it a city that we can be proud to live in and and enjoy which others want to visit!

30/07/2012 8:38:23 p.m.

craig wrote:

what no theme park? christchurch needs a theme park like dream world in the gold coast

30/07/2012 8:37:29 p.m.

Emma wrote:

I think the city will be beautiful once finished. I love the idea of having a major entertainment district in the heart of Christchurch; all major cities are built this way. Hopefully our new facilities will in time entice entertainers from around the world, instead of going only to Auckland. Bring it on!

30/07/2012 7:32:44 p.m.

James Youngman wrote:

"PEOPLE BEFORE BUILDINGS!!!!" We want our homes fixed before the CBD. Look after the people first and then get the CBD sorted. Most businesses are re-sited now. Fix our homes or we will move to Aussie and there will be no Christchurch.

30/07/2012 7:25:09 p.m.

K Donne wrote:

I think it holds great promise..I'm looking forward to reading more detail about it in tomorrows Press and over the next few days as journalists investigate the whole plan..Like to know more about the funding of the convention centre and stadium..5yrs built...not with my rates. there seems to be alot of the share ideas within the plan so good on you Warick Issac and team for listening to the people.

30/07/2012 7:16:50 p.m.

Ruz wrote:

My first impression was that the function of the launch of the new plan was dominated by old balding men who were probably there by invitation to see how much money they could make from the rebuild. No kids or other young people and certainly no women. Outside the launch venue people were protesting that lack of toilets and water-proof homes which will no doubt become meaningless as the focus is on providing the Crusaders and its well paid professional players with a home ground.

30/07/2012 7:15:00 p.m.

Rebecca wrote:

What is the point of spending so much money on a new stadium when they can't even fix our houses? They have a stadium they can use. I love sport but I need a house I can live in first as do my children. Very have been out of our free zone house and community for 18 months and no one cares. There won't be people left in chch to use theses facilities unless they fix our homes. I think homes are more important than commercial buildings.

30/07/2012 7:09:58 p.m.

Bazraz wrote:

what a waist of time. You still have thousands of people who are still required to use a portaloo and put up with cracks in the walls. Get these people sorted before you sort out the rich-list. I do not know what it is like but if I was one of those with no adequate housing I would be one of the 1000 people leaving for Aussie.