Ambition for 20,000 CBD residents by 2028 ‘unrealistic’
CHRISTCHURCH: The plan to have 20,000 people living in the Christchurch city centre within the next few years seems increasingly set to fail.
The latest official figures show the central business district’s population hovering at about 7000, stubbornly lower than before the earthquakes struck more than a decade ago.
The council has an ambitious target to nearly triple the current number of people in the CBD by 2028.
It is a revised date, as its initial goal was to have 20,000 people in the city centre by 2024.
Christchurch’s longestserving city councillor Yani Johanson said even the revised goal was not realistic.
‘‘No, I don’t think that target’s going to be met,’’ he said.
‘‘Certainly, if you looked at the preearthquake figures of population growth within the central city, there were targets set back then as well and you know, the population growth in the central city just did not justify having that level of target.’’
Before the earthquakes, it was estimated about 8000 people lived within the four avenues that encircle Christchurch’s city centre.
The latest figures from Stats NZ last year, estimate only about 7170 people now lived in the CBD.
Homes were being built in the area though, 402 in the past year.
Cr Johanson believed too many of those new developments went to shortterm tenancies such as Airbnb — a trend only eased by Covid19.
‘‘Without Covid19, I think the central city would have been struggling in terms of residential properties, but obviously with Covid19 there’s been such a massive demand on properties,’’ he said.
Cr Johanson said the postquake rebuild should have allocated land for new housing west of Cathedral Square, across from the Avon River, which would have made central city living more attractive.
Cr Johanson said the rebuild should have also promoted the inner suburbs, on the edges of the CBD for greater growth.
Property developer Miles Yeoman said another mistake was letting one company, Fletcher Living, build the East Frame residential project.
The 900home development was still ongoing and he said it would be done by now if multiple contractors were involved.
‘‘I think there were like four supersize lots, that ran along the East Frame, to the east of Manchester St,’’ he said.
‘‘From my perspective, it would have been good to see four different developers competing and getting stuck in. And I think it probably would have been done and finished by now if that was the case.’’
Mr Yeoman also did not think that the council’s stated ambition of 20,000 central business district residents by 2028 could happen.
There were those who saw it differently, though.
Investor Richard Peebles recently launched a project with developer Mike Greer to build 110 homes in the CBD.
‘‘If we need circa another 13,000 people, I guess that’s what, 6000 or 7000 homes? So what are we talking, about 800 to 1000 a year. I think it’s achievable,’’ he said.
‘‘I wouldn’t at all be surprised if over the next couple of years we are at more than 1000 homes consented.’’
Mr Peebles said the city did need a better range of homes, instead of just small apartments.
He was not too worried about properties being snapped up just to be used as Airbnbs.
Mr Peebles said having shortterm accommodation for visitors was not a bad thing, because it would create a busy and bustling CBD.
He said it was all about having the right mix.