Carless area mulled
Making part of Stafford St pedestrian-only might not be good for some local businesses, but one business thinks it would ‘‘bring back the vibrancy’’.
Making a portion of Stafford St for pedestrians only was one of the suggestions in a residents’ survey, carried out as part of the new The District Town Centres Study.
In response to residents’ feedback about congestion and traffic in the central business district, the report’s author suggested part of the main street could be made pedestrian-only and developed as an open space.
Maintaining Timaru’s historic character, addressing the increased threat to Timaru’s heritage buildings and cost of earthquake strengthening faced by owners, and an assessment of the retail environment were among many of the suggestions offered by the council report.
The report was used to stimulate discussion around the future of Timaru’s CBD and followed months of discussion. Stakeholder meetings - part of a process to potentially establish a town centre management group - were being held on Wednesday and Thursday.
‘‘An answer to the congestion issue or the perception of there being many vehicles within the town centre could be the pedestrianisation of Stafford St,’’ the report says.
It could then be developed as an open space to facilitate larger areas for outdoor dining, and providing a space for street entertainers, artists, and vendors.
However, some businesses felt they would lose out on custom if a portion of Stafford St were to be shut off to traffic.
Stafford St retailer Paul Stevenson, of Paul’s Gallery and Framing, said he recalled an instance of pedestrianisation in Blenheim which did not work and many businesses relocated as a result.
In Timaru, he felt something similar would happen.
‘‘When there’s a parade, they close out the vehicles. It tends to close out the people.
‘‘People still like to park outside the door where they are going.’’
Grant Shaw of Mac Shaw Menswear said he was open to a one-way street option but did not agree with shutting off an area to traffic completely.
It would never work as Timaru was too small to do that, he said.
However, Mike Pero Real Estate franchise owner Graeme Wilson liked the idea as long as vehicles were able to access shops, such as delivery services.
He wanted to see music, stalls, and other activity happening on the main street.
76 per cent of retail spending generated by residents is spent within the district
24 per cent of retail expenditure is spent outside the district ($112 million per year)
8 per cent of retail ‘‘leakage’’ spent in Christchurch
Lack of larger retail spaces (500 square metres or more)
Sufficient provision of retail floor space, but quality of supply is not meeting district’s requirements
Half of all fashion spending made by Timaru residents spent outside district
Higher proportion of smaller, lower quality stores which do not perform or generate the same retail productivity as other stores
Some of these occupy prime retail floor space on Stafford St
‘‘Something vibrancy back.’’
Maintaining Timaru’s historic character and buildings was also a challenge as earthquake strengthening requirements made it less viable to upgrade or maintain them, particularly on Stafford St.
‘‘The concern is that many of the historic buildings in the town will need work to comply with the proposed changes, making their continued occupation less viable,’’ the report says.
Stafford St hosted a mix of heritage-listed buildings and unlisted buildings with Victorian and Edwardian features providing a continuity of heritage facades.
Timaru Urban Renaissance Network co-founder Ian Butcher said heritage buildings in Timaru’s CBD faced the threat of being torn down and replaced with ‘‘tin shed[s] with a fancy shop’’.
‘‘Those buildings are the things that will create a memorable shopping experience.’’
If heritage buildings and other historic features disappeared, the main street could become like any other modern shopping area, such as Rangiora and Ashburton.
‘‘There’s nothing unique to retain the interests of the visitors,’’ Butcher said.
The council could take the lead role and promote inner-city living, make it easier to convert to residential uses, and incentivise the maintenance and upgrading of buildings.
But it needed to be looked at as a broader view, such as attracting people into the CBD from the state highway, such as a toilet stop or tourist activity, he said.
Shaw said he would like to see lights showing off heritage features on buildings on Stafford St and wooden verandah posts to give the street more character.
‘‘We are on the right road, but if we sit down we might get run over,’’ he said. to bring the