From ACC's last development committee minutes (http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/members/committeemeetings/city/20100513_0930/CDC-13052010-OPN-AGD-%2309.pdf)


Despite the macro benefits offered by Sky City as an international entertainment precinct and Sky Tower in particular as a recent landmark addition and iconic structure on the Auckland sky line the sky city complex does not engage well with the street.

Along its western edge the sky city building has a poor relationship with Hobson Street. In particular, the bus station is set back from the street frontage and provides a significant impediment for easy pedestrian movement. Pavements run along blank frontages and at times are not connected offering low levels of amenity, comfort and safety.

In a similar way, Federal Street (between Wellesley and Victoria Streets) is also currently an uninviting pedestrian environment. This is primarily due to the street frontage being dominated by car park entrances, inactive blank concrete facades, large pillars, and above ground planter boxes. These components obscure sight lines, marginalise pedestrians to the edge of the street and create significant issues around perceived and real safety, street clutter and accessibility. The street is also used as a rat run, taxi rank and a coach drop off spot. This further compromises noise, air quality, and overall microclimate

Despite being the front door to a 5 star hotel and one of Auckland’s major tourist attractions, the street is also poorly landscaped and unattractive. The combination of all of these elements makes for a cluttered, unappealing and intimidating pedestrian environment.

Federal Street is on the radar in terms of requiring intervention and upgrading but is not currently in CBD Projects streetscape 10 year programme of works. However, one of the outcomes of the CBD into the Future strategy is to deliver a high-quality urban environment and one of the identified actions to help achieve this outcome is to work with building owners and developers to maximise opportunities to improve streetscapes should the opportunity to arise.

To transform the public realm quality and destination experience within Federal Street requires collaboration with the adjoining landowners, as ground floor activation will be required to work in harmony with the public space to create a more active, safer, vibrant and inviting pedestrian environment.
There now exists an opportunity for the city to work in partnership with a significant landowner (Sky City) to undertake potentially transformational urban repair work within this critical area of the mid-city. This report covers the site and the opportunity that has been presented.

SKYCITY Entertainment Group Limited (“SKYCITY”) have approached Council with a proposal to undertake a package of works. The three components of the package are as follows:
Redevelop Federal Street as a quality shared space predestrian friendly environment between Wellesley and Victoria Streets so that a wider range of uses, activities and events can occur during both during the day and night.


Reconfigure the ground floor of SKYCITY’s buildings to accommodate an eclectic mix of restaurant and retail units on their Federal Street frontages.


Extend the existing SKYCITY conference facilities into the airspace over Federal Street. The proposal would result in an overbuilding that would span a 48m stretch of Federal Street. The overbuilding would be 13m above street level, and approximately 9m high. This would allow SKYCITY to increase the capacity of their largest conference room to seat 2,000 (currently 1,500) for a lecture, and host a banquet for 1,600 (currently 1,200) people. SKYCITY have commissioned Gordon Moller and a nationally recognised artist to work together to develop an exciting concept that would cleverly sheath or conceal the overbuilding in order to create a significant piece of public art. It is proposed that this art work together with innovative design components would in fact enhance the public realm from a physical and visual amenity point of view.


Despite the opportunity presented there are a number of urban design challenges associated with the proposed overbuilding, and its real and perceived potential negative impact on the public realm in Federal Street.

The construction of such an overbuilding will be polarising, with some, such as some members of the Urban Design Panel, being fundamentally opposed to building over a public street and those such as The Public Art Panel who are sceptical but believe that if the public art component is extraordinary in design quality and authentically integrated so as to drive the architectural response (rather than the other way round) the project may be supported.

The view supported by this report is similar. If the package of works within each component is developed to an exemplary design standard it could certainly provide a quality outcome for the city. It also believes that this is an exciting package of catalytic interventions that council would be unable to deliver on its own and encourages further dialogue with Sky City and their team to see if the potential can be realised. This report also acknowledges that wider interventions or urban acupuncture (such as the reconfiguration of ASB building on Federal St, the boulevarding and two-waying of Hobson Street or the relocation of the intercity bus depot) may also be possible by leveraging opportunities to work alongside other key landowners such as Multiplex or stakeholders such as NZTA or ARTA. This is a golden opportunity to progress this dialogue.

SKYCITY will only undertake the work if all three components are agreed to by council.
SKYCITY requires council’s consent as landowner to undertake the redevelopment of Federal Street, and also requires an airspace lease to allow the construction of the convention centre overbuilding.
SKYCITY have made an offer to fund the redevelopment of Federal Street. Details of this offer are contained in a separate report on the confidential agenda.


Federal street as it currently stands
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As proposed by Skycity:
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm228/rytc1980/overview.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm228/rytc1980/street.jpg
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Ground Floor tenancies
SKYCITY’s plans to develop more retail units on it’s ground floor frontages to Federal Street is seen as a crucial component of the streetscapes work. The concept plans show these retail units being primarily food and beverage. There would also be some traditional retail.

The retail units would be created by removing one (and possibly both) of the entrances to SKYCITY’s underground car park. The area currently occupied by SKYCITY’s porte cochere would also be converted into retail units. Further expansion of the retail edge will be explored in the detailed design stage to reduce the area of blank façade under the proposed overbuilding.

The current car park entrances on Federal street that could be removed as part of this package.
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Programme
SKYCITY have provided a high level programme of works showing that it is possible to have the works completed before the start of the rugby world cup. A copy of this programme is attached as appendix 4.
Open

Officers are of the view that the programme is very compressed, and it would be challenging to deliver the project by the rugby world cup. To achieve this deadline is dependant on no appeals being lodged to any of the required resource consents, completion of consultation, Council and SKYCITY agreeing to commercial terms quickly, and SKYCITY being able to develop their concept designs into detailed designs which are acceptable to Council within 4 weeks of this committee meeting.

The rugby world cup is an arbitrary deadline, and one that is, from Councils perspective, not imperative to meet. If the proposed works were to proceed it would have a significant impact on Federal Street. The imperative is to get the design of the street and the overbridge to an exceptional standard, to ensure that all design challenges and potential adverse effects are addressed appropriately.

Whatever the timeline for completion of the project, Council will need to dedicate significant resources to work with SKYCITY to develop the design of both the streetscapes work and the overbuilding. This will require additional resourcing and budget which will need to be met by SKYCITY as part of the commercial terms.

Further details
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This is great, best of all SkyCity are funding it themselves. I really hope this goes ahead.

I also think this would be great, it's a horrible little street at present so in a way losing the sky above a portion of it to allow this would be a good compromise. I think the activation of the street frontage would be a pretty great outcome.

^^ Looks fantastic, thanks for the info. Federal Street is an awkward little area that really could be opened up to something great. The Hobson Street prominade could be revitalised too! It looks quite seedy and dark at present.

All looks positive!

I also think this would be great, it's a horrible little street at present so in a way losing the sky above a portion of it to allow this would be a good compromise. I think the activation of the street frontage would be a pretty great outcome.

I agree. It seems amazing that the most prominent building in Auckland has such an ordinary, and arguably shabby, street-level space. And greenery - hurrah!

Thanks for all the info Drosophila. :cheers: Exciting news. That will be the start of a world of difference around the Sky Tower. The surrounding areas of Sky Tower are quite embarrassing at the moment - even with the AGC "upgrade" there is much room for improvement especially since the Tower is such a tourist attraction.

.................

From NZ Herald


SkyCity plans country's biggest venue

http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/A_220507NZHDPSKY08_220x147.jpg

SkyCity wants to build an Auckland convention centre that would be the biggest in New Zealand, able to hold thousands of people.

It plans to build over a city centre street to link its current structures, but says it will budget for street improvements that would lift the area.

The plan is in response to a Government request for a national convention centre, and could be ready in time for the Rugby World Cup.

SkyCity wants to build over much of Federal St between Wellesley St and Victoria St.

It plans to join one level of the SkyCity Grand Hotel, which already has conference areas, to the adjacent SkyCity Hotel, Casino and SkyTower buildings.

The SkyCity plan has been submitted to the Auckland City Council.

The council's group manager for urban design, Ludo Campbell-Reid, told the city development committee that a structure 48m long, 9m high and 13m above the street was proposed.

"SkyCity has proposed extending its conference facility by extending level five of its existing building into the airspace over Federal St," he added.

But he said the structure was "polarising" opinions as some members of the Urban Design Panel were opposed to building above a public street.

But in return for being able to build above the street, across which SkyCity already has an airbridge, the company has offered to pay so the council could afford to landscape and redevelop Federal St, making it a "shared space" for cars and pedestrians.

The council has some appetite for that, although some officials say SkyCity's plan is too small and a venue for 3000 to 5000 people is needed.

Mr Campbell-Reid said Federal St was now a dark, uninviting area with blank facades, dominated by carparking and it could be changed by the proposal.

Auckland City had not budgeted to improve the area, and SkyCity's buildings already spanned 70 per cent of the street, he said.

"The quality of the public realm is poor. However, the council alone cannot transform the area.'

SkyCity would also create shops and restaurants along that part of Federal St, possibly removing both carparking entries to its underground carpark on Federal St.

SkyCity's general counsel and company secretary, Peter Treacy, said the plans were in response to a call from the Minister of Economic Development, Gerry Brownlee.

Moller Architects had been working on SkyCity's plans which would enable the business to cater for 1600 people at banquets.

Now, it can cater for 1200, and Mr Campbell-Reid said no other Auckland venue could seat so many.

"For instance, The Edge, which has similar lecture-style capacity to SkyCity, can only banquet 650 people." New Zealand had long sought to have the ability to host large-scale international conferences and exhibitions, he said.

If no one objects or appeals against the plan, SkyCity could have it ready for the rugby cup next year.

Thinking big:

* SkyCity plans a 48m-long building over Federal St

* Company will give money for improving the area

* Development will link five-star hotel with casino

* It will create a 2000-seat conference venue

* Plan fast-tracked for RWC2011

Very in-depth information, Drosophila, thank you! I am very impressed with this proposal as currently Federal St is very unappealing. I would love to see more shared spaces in Auckland city on the smaller side streets like this.

Flickr is playing silly buggers with linking to Skyscrapercity at the moment so most of my images will be offline until some sort of agreement can be arrived at (if at all possible)

Here are more images of Federal Street as it is now......

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy82/craigsydnz/Auckland%20Development/SB2J6920.jpg

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http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy82/craigsydnz/Auckland%20Development/SB2J6914.jpg

This is another building (Palace) that could do with some serious TLC. Hopefully someone buys it up and turns it into a Boutique Hotel/ Department Store / Designers Emporium.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy82/craigsydnz/Auckland%20Development/SB2J2771.jpg

Great photos and they show what a funny mix of high-quality paving and bad quality tar seal it is - and how much dominance cars have c.f. pedestrians. I think this proposal woul do a world of wonder and a roof is a small price to pay I think. Furthermore, if it brings more conferences to Auckland that's also a good thing.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy82/craigsydnz/Auckland%20Development/SB2J2771.jpg


I really like these corner buildings that are scattered around Auckland - this one is a great one too and would look fantastic if done up. The block of shops and apartments opposite skycity are a real disgrace at the moment. This shared space could be the catalyst to attract a higher quality tenant.

Nice pics, reminds me the Rydges extension must just about be finished? got any recent snaps?

This development is actually similar to what is proposed in Rhubarb lane - the glass building over a street that is.

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm228/rytc1980/Screenshot2010-04-11at83133AM-1.png

I really like these corner buildings that are scattered around Auckland - this one is a great one too and would look fantastic if done up. The block of shops and apartments opposite skycity are a real disgrace at the moment. This shared space could be the catalyst to attract a higher quality tenant.

I really like the restaurants along to the right of the pub here - lots of variety and interest - its the sort of place people want to go at night: intimate spaces, no big glassy wind-swept faces in this block (although I agree that's not the case in the next block along Victoria street).

http://images.tvnz.co.nz/tvnz_images/news2010/business-companies/skycity_2.jpg

The Auckland City Council has pledged their support for Sky City's proposal to re-develop Federal St as a pedestrian friendly area in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.


If their proposal is put into action the Sky City Convention Centre will be expanded across Federal St to create a pedestrian friendly space with new bars and restaurants.

Sky City's chief executive officer Nigel Morrison says the project would be funded by both the council and the private sector. Sky City plan to invest over $20m in the re-development alone.

"It's hugely positive for the city. Having it completed in time for the Rugby World Cup will ensure significant economic spinoff for the inner city businesses, hotels, bars and restaurants."

However the proposal is still just a concept and will be subject to the normal resource consent process.

"The reality is that Federal St is currently a street for buses, taxis and entrances into car parks. This proposal will rejuvenate this central area which is pivotal to the majority of the city's entertainment areas."

^^Great news that, now lets get on and build it. Hopefully no NIMBYs with nothing better to do stick their oar in during the consent process and we have this up and running towards the end of next year.

Anyone know what's happening with the other shared spaces around the CBD? Any progress on those?

^^Great news that, now lets get on and build it. Hopefully no NIMBYs with nothing better to do stick their oar in during the consent process and we have this up and running towards the end of next year.

Anyone know what's happening with the other shared spaces around the CBD? Any progress on those?


Elliot St will start in June, Fort street in August and Lorne street in October I think it is, then Darby street early next year - these will also all be finished by the RWC next year.

I'm glad this is proceeding, because all the land around Federal street is owned by SkyCity there shouldn't be any businesses complaining as per the other shared spaces.

^^

Federal Street can only benefit from this move - as it is, it is a dark and dingy thoroughfare mainly for buses, cars and taxis and pedestrians moving but having no reason to pause apart from Starbucks on the end or Belllota's halfway down. It also happens to be one of the main entrances to the Grand Hotel and conference centre, and award winning Dine restaurant - hardly an inspiring look for people visiting those.

Elliot St will start in June, Fort street in August and Lorne street in October I think it is, then Darby street early next year - these will also all be finished by the RWC next year.

I'm glad this is proceeding, because all the land around Federal street is owned by SkyCity there shouldn't be any businesses complaining as per the other shared spaces.

Thanks for that, looking forward to those others going ahead as well i do think they are the most important projects to happen in the central CBD for some time, should really change things for the better.

Yep that's a good point about SkyCity so hopefully this is full steam ahead.

Thanks for that, looking forward to those others going ahead as well i do think they are the most important projects to happen in the central CBD for some time, should really change things for the better.

I was going to say the exact same thing.

Its fine to build all these tall scrapers and add to the density of the city, but its these changes at the ground level which should really improve the city's image and ambience for locals and visitors.

This shared space concept is really starting to gather momentum - with the council upgrades, a similar project at Rhubarb lane, and now Sky City getting in on the act. Council, developers, and the private sector seeing the advantages of these kinds of improvements.

Next stop: Queen St.................

Next stop: Queen St.................

Please let them do High Street next........ :)

SkyCity Federal St bridge bill likely to be $20m

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm228/rytc1980/FederalSt_460x230.jpg

SkyCity's plans to build over Federal St will cost it more than $20 million.

Chief executive Nigel Morrison revealed the figure yesterday after an initial report on the proposal to bridge over part of an inner-city street went to Auckland City Council last week.

"SkyCity plans to invest over $20 million into the development that will greatly improve Auckland's standing in the convention space while enhancing the internationalisation of Auckland as a city in the minds of visitors," Morrison said.

The council had "supported" its proposal to build on level five of its buildings and create a new span big enough for a conference venue, he claimed.

SkyCity wants to cater to more than 2000 conference-goers by bridging west from its five-star SkyCity Grand Hotel to its four-star SkyCity Hotel across the other side of Federal St.

But Ludo Campbell-Reid, the council's group manager for urban design, raised issues about the effects SkyCity's operations already had on Federal St.

"The street is used as a rat run, taxi rank and coach drop-off spot," he wrote. "This further compromises noise, air quality and overall microclimate. Despite being the front door to a five-star hotel and one of Auckland's major tourist attractions, the street is also poorly landscaped and unattractive. The combination of all of these elements makes for a cluttered, unappealing and intimidating pedestrian environment."

Morrison agreed that the street could be improved.

"This proposal will rejuvenate this central area which is pivotal to the majority of the city's entertainment areas." In return for being allowed to build over a public street, SkyCity will pay the council so it can upgrade Federal St as a shared space for cars and pedestrians.

"The project will see the combination of council and private funding," he said. "Having it completed in time for the Rugby World Cup will ensure significant economic spinoff for the inner-city businesses, hotels, bars and restaurants."

The plan is still at its concept stage and would be subject to the usual resource consent processes. SkyCity's airbridge would be 48m long.

Morrison also highlighted that SkyCity donates $2.5-$3 million to local charities and organisations, has $1.5 billion invested in Auckland and has 3500 staffers in Auckland making it the city's largest inner-city employer.

I was going to say the exact same thing.

Its fine to build all these tall scrapers and add to the density of the city, but its these changes at the ground level which should really improve the city's image and ambience for locals and visitors.

This shared space concept is really starting to gather momentum - with the council upgrades, a similar project at Rhubarb lane, and now Sky City getting in on the act. Council, developers, and the private sector seeing the advantages of these kinds of improvements.

Next stop: Queen St.................

Even Rangiora near ChCh is planning on making their main drag a shared space - so it's really building momentum across NZ which is cool.

Let's test true commitment to arts

As every downtown property developer knows, Auckland City planners go all weak at the knees at the talk of free public artworks. Especially those on the grand scale.

They can add extra floors to new buildings and reduce car park requirements and development levies. And it's all legal. Indeed encouraged.

That's why the foyer in just about every big building in the CBD is littered with giant spoked wheels, dangling polystyrene feathers and great blobs of rounded stone.

Gambling giant SkyCity is now taking the biggest artwork wager of all.

It's proposing that the city council close its eyes for a moment and let SkyCity take over a 48m-long slab of the airspace over Federal St.

In return, the gamblers promise to wrap the hijacked space in an artwork so magical that when the city fathers open their eyes they won't even notice their property has disappeared.

To its credit, the Advisory Panel for Public Art doesn't include prestidigitation in its list of approved arts and is refusing to endorse the proposal.

Blunt and to the point, it says the proposed 686sq m aerial banqueting hall straddling the street will "obliterate open sky space", block views of St Patrick's Cathedral and "effectively privatise public space and set a very uncomfortable precedent".

It adds that "there is potential for a high quality public art/architectural outcome 'suspended' above Federal St, but the proposal ... does not achieve this".

More enthusiastic is the city's urban design champion, Ludo Campbell-Reid, who sees the proposal as a way of transforming the "cluttered, unappealing and intimidating pedestrian environment" of Federal St at SkyCity's expense.

He doesn't quite put it in those words. He says "this is a golden opportunity to progress the dialogue", but that's what he means.

He fizzes about SkyCity having hired architect Gordon Moller and "a nationally recognised artist" to work together "to develop an exciting concept that would cleverly sheath or conceal the overbuilding in order to create a significant piece of public art".

He says that "rather than being an overbridge that is covered in art, it needs to be a piece of art that contains a conference facility".

The SkyCity submission is even more lyrical, talking of it being inspired by the Aurora Australis - the Southern Lights - with "subtle" movement of light through and in the structure - sorry, art work.

Last Thursday, the City Development Committee went along with Mr Campbell-Reid's recommendation that negotiations begin with SkyCity over the detail designs of the proposal, and the terms and conditions of the airspace takeover, any decisions conditional on council approval.

Personally, I'm with APPA and its concern about the awful precedent of privatising public space. Still, as the council has decided to agree to begin talks with SkyCity, now would be an excellent time to test its true commitment to the arts.

In the early 1990s, when the developers of the SkyCity project were selling the project to a divided city, its 700-seater theatre was a big selling point. These days, and under new management, a question mark now hangs over the venue.

Auckland Theatre Company, which traditionally has used it for two big income-generating shows a year, found the doors closed this year for its big end-of-year show.

Whether it will be available for the Auckland Festival next March is up in the air.

Rumours within the sector have it being converted into a sports bar, or a flat-floored, dine and cabaret show room. SkyCity management have not replied to my queries on this.

In most cities of this size it wouldn't matter, there'd be alternative venues. But in Auckland, apart from the University-owned Maidment Theatre, whose future is also in the balance, SkyCity Theatre is the only suitably sized commercial drama theatre in town.

SkyCity seems to be turning a deaf ear to this problem.

But now it's their turn to come cap in hand to the city seeking public airspace for their elevated banqueting hall, what a golden time, to borrow Mr Campbell-Reid's expression, "to progress the dialogue".

Public has no automatic say in SkyCity street plans

Auckland ratepayers will not automatically get a say in SkyCity plans to expand its convention centre over Federal St.

The casino company wants to build over a quarter of the block and in exchange has offered a $10 million upgrade of the tatty block at street level.

It has proposed wrapping the overbuilding in an artwork.

Chief executive Nigel Morrison said the company was aiming to achieve something that was visually attractive, overwhelmingly positive for the city and would help make SkyCity more of an attractive international destination.

The overbuilding would expand the largest conference room from 1500 to 2000 seated guests and 1200 to 1600 guests for dining.

It is hoped to have the project completed in time for next year's Rugby World Cup.

Auckland City's city development committee has endorsed the project through to the detailed design phase.

Mr Morrison said it was up to the council to decide whether the project was publicly notified, saying "other international cities have these things all over the place".

Council planning general manager John Duthie said because the council had a vested interest in Federal St being upgraded the matter of public notification would be made by independent commissioners.

There were clearly affected parties and if they did not give consent it would definitely be notified. He would not comment on who the affected parties were before seeing the resource consent application.

Mr Duthie said the SkyCity plan would be the biggest airspace licence in central Auckland.

"This is a very significant project. It needs careful scrutiny."

Most of the urban design panel believed that regardless of the external treatment of the overbuilding, it would have a significant negative impact on the public realm of Federal St and could create a tunnel effect with adverse effects on sunlight and air quality.

The advisory panel said the aerial banqueting hall straddling the street would obliterate open sky space, block views of St Patrick's Cathedral and "effectively privatise public space and set a very uncomfortable precedent in the city".

The council's urban design champion, Ludo Campbell-Reid, said he was generally not keen on pedestrian overbridges because they took pedestrian movement away from the street.

"But this scheme is different because it is not a pedestrian overbridge and has the real opportunity to repair the street and in fact enhance the quality and public enjoyment of the street. I believe the proposal merits further conversation."

Mr Morrison said SkyCity planned to turn Federal St, between Victoria and Wellesley Sts, into a shared space where pedestrians will be free to roam as long as they do not unduly hold up motorists. This could involve removing an entrance to the SkyCity underground carpark at the Wellesley St end and reversing the one-way traffic flow.

UP IN THE AIR

* Plan is to expand SkyCity convention centre over Federal St.
* The biggest privatisation of airspace in Central Auckland.
* Auckland City's city development committee has endorsed the project.
* Independent commissioners will decide if the public can have a say.

SkyCity keen to grow in two directions
By Anne Gibson
5:30 AM Saturday Aug 28, 2010


SkyCity chief executive Nigel Morrison has hatched expansion plans that would swell the Auckland premises dramatically, sprawling out over three blocks and catering for about 13,000 people at any one time.

The plans come as analysts flag concerns about the company's core business - revenue from gaming.

Morrison wants to go east towards the Albert Park side of his site, expanding those meeting and conference facilities on level five by bridging over Federal St.

That venue can now cater for 1000 at meetings and 800 diners but plans are for more than 2000 at meetings and 1600 diners, up against nearest rival Langham Hotel's expanded venue, catering for 1400 at meetings and 900 diners.

Morrison wants more shops, cafes and bars to liven up the edge of Federal St, which he also wants to become a shared space for cars and pedestrians.

Then, in a second and much grander vision, he wants to head west towards Victoria Park, colonising 101 Hobson St which SkyCity already owns, to build a $200 million to $500 million international exhibition and conference centre, although that is only one of five bids now being considered by the Ministry of Economic Development.

Like malls such as the giant Sydney Castle Towers in the northern suburbs, this involves building airbridges over streets to provide people with seamless interior access.

SkyCity has just opened a refurbished restaurant, Jade Dragon, on level one in the atrium of its main building on the corner of Federal and Victoria Sts.

This month Morrison invited the media and food experts, including restaurant critics, hosting a dinner in the refurbished Cantonese-style restaurant, which he said would strongly appeal to Asian clientele.

He mentioned one Asian gambler flying in who bets $4 million an hour.

Auckland City, acknowledging SkyCity is the CBD's biggest private-sector employer, has some concerns about the venue's growth. The council has to give consent to allow airbridges and Ludo Campbell-Reid, city group manager urban design, said SkyCity's complex "does not engage well with the street: carpark entranceways, inactive blank concrete facades, large pillars, above-ground planter boxes".

Pedestrians were marginalised, sightlines obscured and safety issues created in the poorly landscaped and unattractive area.

Both the council and SkyCity want to change that and SkyCity has offered a deal: it will pay for a Federal St upgrade, paving it as a shared space for pedestrians and cars, in return for being allowed to build another, much more substantial airbridge.

Then, it can expand the existing convention centre.

Campbell-Reid supports that because the city has no budget for the street changes and he says all the works - bar the huge airbridge - would "enhance the public realm".

Whether or not SkyCity wins the international tender for 101 Hobson St, one thing is certain: its Auckland property is expanding rapidly.

Analysts might favour it more after next year's annual result.

Its eight years of underperformance on electronic gaming machines at the Auckland casino has incurred their wrath and poor decisions by management have been blamed.

UBS analysts Sam Theodore and Andrew Dempster said Auckland's lack of performance in SkyCity's portfolio here and in Australia was a longer-term trend that needed addressing. They called for more capital expenditure to fight off competition from pubs, clubs and bars.

"Electronic gaming machine revenues in Auckland have shown no growth for about eight consecutive years - what we consider to be an unacceptable outcome for shareholders.

"While management stated that they believe they have outperformed relative to pubs/clubs in Auckland, we would note this should not be a surprise given the stronger competitive positioning of the casino in terms of products versus the pubs and clubs and also the capital expenditure spend on the casino over this period," Theodore and Dempster wrote.

They were part of a group of analysts who have just released studies on SkyCity's performance, blasting Auckland's contribution compared with returns from SkyCity's other properties in Darwin, Adelaide and Hamilton.

Auckland needs to grow, the point analysts made after the business released its annual result for the June 2010 financial year, making $102 million net after-tax profit after tax expense relating to Government Budget changes. That was down 11.5 per cent on the June 2009 net after-tax profit of $115.3 million.

"Auckland disappoints, patience required," complained Credit Suisse analyst Rod Bode.

"A disturbing aspect of the result was the performance of the Auckland property. A marked weakness in the second half of 2010's premium table play at Auckland was the main reason for Auckland ebit contracting 8 per cent. The highlights were double-digit earnings growth from the Adelaide and Hamilton properties."

Similarly, Goldman Sachs' Marcus Curley carped about steeper declines in Auckland gaming revenues "as tables were significantly impacted by a large reduction in premium play. We continue to view this as a cyclical issue and note that similar trends were recently reported in Australia."

Curley downgraded SkyCity from a buy to a hold, "a hard decision. We continue to see significant valuation upside in SkyCity's long-term casino franchises but, without positive earnings momentum or catalysts, we struggle to see how this valuation gap will close quickly in the next six months."

Forsyth Barr's Jeremy Simpson emphasised the tough second half in Auckland and Darwin: "The themes coming through this result were largely as anticipated with Auckland under pressure from weaker local gaming and Darwin impacted by smoking bans and unseasonal weather."

SkyCity's expansion plans are much like Westfield's approach: draw or capture the crowds, please them, give them what they want, then keep them as long as possible.

But SkyCity can keep people for much longer. It's got two of Auckland's biggest hotels, the four-star SkyCity and five-star SkyCity Grand.

This was going ahead last I heard - any news?

This was going ahead last I heard - any news?

A quick look out my window reveals no staggering developments :-(. Didn't they say they wanted it ready in time for some big event in September :-).

^^

Yeah - nothing happening at all - ?

Nothing at all. It's a shame really SkyCity really need to open up the ground floor and make it more indoor/outdoor. Not everyone wants to sit in a windowless box and gamble.

Wellington restaurateur, author and TV presenter Al Brown of the much-lauded Logan Brown restaurant is bringing his culinary skills to Auckland as part of SkyCity's initial $10 million Federal Street upgrade.

His new restaurant, Depot, will be one of three new eateries to open near the Sky Tower as part of the upgrade of the street running between the tower, casino and two hotels, in time for the Rugby World Cup.

SkyCity chief executive Nigel Morrison said The Red Hummingbird by Luke Dallow of Auckland and The Grill by Sean Connolly of Australia would also open in the new precinct, where construction is starting.

Mr Brown, host of the television series Coasters, said Depot would be based on a gastro-pub environment serving unpretentious food.

The new restaurants will be on the SkyCity Grand side of Federal St.

SkyCity has acknowledged Federal St needs work, and last year the Auckland Council issued a report which slammed the area as a dark, uninviting area with blank facades, dominated by carparking. It needed changing, the council said.

But no budget was allocated, so SkyCity is paying for the upgrade as part of a deal whereby it will build a big airbridge over Federal St to link one building to another.

That new structure will be 48m long and 9m high.

SkyCity offered to pay so the Auckland Council can afford to landscape and redevelop Federal St, making it a shared space for cars and pedestrians.

SkyCity corporate communications manager Scott Campbell said the business was spending $10 million creating the three restaurants.

Consent was already granted for the three restaurants, he said, but resource consent for the airbridge project was not yet finalised.

Great news.
I hope they remove both the parking entrance and exit. My office is just above these and I don't think many people use them anyway. This could also put more pressure on to two way Hobson and Nelson Streets so people coming from the south and right turn into the carpark on Hobson Street.
The airbridge could also provide unique opportunities as it will almost be an indoor street. Could be a good place to go for alfresco dining and drinking when it is raining. I imagine they will have to put some screens up to stop people being blown away though.

So the application for the air bridge has been turned down and SkyCity don't look like they will proceed with the street upgrade without it. A bit of a shame as I would have thought that it would be in SkyCity's interests to activate that street a bit more in order to provide a better midtown bar and restaurant complex. Maybe they should provide the street upgrade as part of their bid for the national convention centre. It's hard to compete with the possibility of getting the government to pay for the St James update like the Edge's proposal.

So the application for the air bridge has been turned down and SkyCity don't look like they will proceed with the street upgrade without it. A bit of a shame as I would have thought that it would be in SkyCity's interests to activate that street a bit more in order to provide a better midtown bar and restaurant complex. Maybe they should provide the street upgrade as part of their bid for the national convention centre. It's hard to compete with the possibility of getting the government to pay for the St James update like the Edge's proposal.

Where have you heard the application for consent has been turned down?

Where have you heard the application for consent has been turned down?

It's in today's Herald, page A10. Not on the website yet.

It's in today's Herald, page A10. Not on the website yet.

OK thanks for that, what a shame, maybe the convention centre bid won't go Skycity's way either, you would assume the Council would want to keep Skycity sweet if it was?

That's disappointing, I was of the opinion that the area couldn't be made much worse than it it currently it, and the upgrade would have at least improved the area out the front of the skycity. Does the paper say why the council decided to reject the bridge?

That's disappointing, I was of the opinion that the area couldn't be made much worse than it it currently it, and the upgrade would have at least improved the area out the front of the skycity. Does the paper say why the council decided to reject the bridge?

They said that the loss of public space was unacceptable and would set a dangerous precedent. Personally I don't know anyone who can use public space 10 metres off the ground, well other than Spiderman. I fully agree that the street is already ruined and that putting a sky bridge over the top is not really going to affect it too much. Also I think it could be a good opportunity to have an outdoor space that is in effect sheltered from rain.

Personally I don't know anyone who can use public space 10 metres off the ground, well other than Spiderman.
:lol:

Federal Street is basically a part of SkyCity, and is only crap because of their carpark.
So, they're offering to fix their own crap, but in return for airspace?

Will they make a similar "offer" to fix Hobson Street if the convention center goes ahead?

And using their own restaurants as a bargaining chip?

I'm not against the Council making deals with private companies, but I don't think we should consider Federal St's upgrade a favour. I'd call it an overdue debt. And I don't think (yet another) a Skybridge is a good thing. Not that I'm opposed to skybridges, because when done well (ie, made public) they can be great.

Another example of Auckland bureauracy coming in the way of common sense!

They wanted to protect 'sightlines' towards St Patricks! It's hardly St Paul's is it?

This is not dead and buried, there is still a chance of this going ahead with a few alterations:

SkyCity is upbeat about its chances of gaining permission to build an overbridge between two buildings in Federal St, despite an unenthusiastic response from the Waitemata Local Board. The plan would revitalise buildings at street level, with more restaurants and bars and a shared space for pedestrians and cars. While all board members supported the building of more bars and restaurants, left-leaning City Vision members opposed the overbridge. The bridge is part of a plan to increase SkyCity's conference centre capacity to 1500 to 2000 people.

Chairman Shale Chambers told the meeting the board needed to listen to advice from the former Auckland City Council's urban design and public arts panel, which criticised the size of the bridge and the effect it could have on air quality. "If we don't take advice from the urban design and public art panel then we're not doing our job properly in my view." Concerns were also raised about a private entity effectively using public space. But SkyCity facilities manager Simon Jamieson told the meeting building the bridge is necessary to make the project financially viable.

SkyCity spokesman Scott Campbell says going to the local board was just the first step in the process, with a presentation to the council's planning and urban design forum taking place yesterday. "There are a lot of bits and pieces that have to come together on this. We're happy to work with the council to come up with a positive outcome." Other local board members supported SkyCity's ambitions to develop a more detailed plan that includes the overbridge, including Greg Moyle of the centre-right Citizens and Ratepayers ticket. "Let's allow it to go through the process rather than trying to kneecap at the onset."

Left-leaning Waitemata and Gulf councillor Mike Lee has mixed views. "I take on board concerns about the privatisation of public space but I have to say that area of Federal St is very, very sterile. "The governing body will be kicking this around as well." The SkyCity proposal includes the possibility of commissioning an artwork to surround the overbridge.

If this is going to be a gaming/entertainment block, then let's really make it one.

I'd ask to Sky City go overboard with this one. Why stop at an airbridge. Let's combine it with an under-side screen to project images on day and night. It would be a destination in its own right.

Example: "The Place" Mall in Beijing:


http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/The-Place211-300x225.jpg

http://images.travbuddy.com/1331521_12664934231716.jpg

http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/1/15111/36_2007/LED-Screen-4.jpg

If this is going to be a gaming/entertainment block, then let's really make it one.

I'd ask to Sky City go overboard with this one. Why stop at an airbridge. Let's combine it with an under-side screen to project images on day and night. It would be a destination in its own right.

Example: "The Place" Mall in Beijing:


http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/The-Place211-300x225.jpg

http://images.travbuddy.com/1331521_12664934231716.jpg

http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/1/15111/36_2007/LED-Screen-4.jpg

That looks pretty awesome. It looks kind of like the Fremont Street Experience in Vegas, only less tacky.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fremont_Street_Experience
I always thought that Auckland needed one gaudy, over the top bill board area like Times Square or Piccadilly Circus. Maybe that could be at the casino.

I always thought that Auckland needed one gaudy, over the top bill board area like Times Square or Piccadilly Circus. Maybe that could be at the casino.

Totally agree - especially after they banned billboards on Queen St.

I strolled past this one a few times and it was great. Would certainly add some colour to another part of the CBD. A little tacky, maybe - but its a casino we are talking about.

SkyCity's expansion plans endure rough ride
NZ HERALD
5:30 AM Monday Mar 14, 2011

SkyCity's plan to take a slab of airspace over Federal St to expand its convention centre is still on the table after a rocky political ride last week. After the proposal was knocked back by the Waitemata Local Board on Tuesday, a committee of the Auckland Council voted on Thursday for officers to continue working with the casino operator on design elements of the airspace proposal. Senior planning officers were also in the gun for making a "sales pitch" in favour of the proposal and writing a report to politicians leaving out critical comments by the urban design panel and advisory panel for public art when it was outlined last year.

One politician said this was a well-worn tactic of the former Auckland City Council. The three planning officers responsible for the report - Ludo-Campbell Reid, Penny Pirrit and Simon Lough - are former Auckland City staff. In a rare public ticking-off of a council officer, councillor Mike Lee called Mr Campbell-Reid's presentation to the planning and urban design forum a "sales pitch". He said councillors should have been provided with the objective and balanced information they needed to make the right decision and explain to the public.

After Tuesday's knock-back by the local board, the forum rejected the officers' recommendation to support the project in principle in favour of sending officers away to do more work with SkyCity on the project. Forum chairman Cameron Brewer said he was keen to find some middle ground and not push the project off the table. SkyCity wants to build over 48m of Federal St - a quarter of the block between Wellesley and Victoria Sts - to expand its conference facilities from 1500 to 2000 guests. In return, the company has offered to wrap the airbridge in an artwork and pay $10 million to upgrade the tatty block at street level - where the company is already making improvements with plans for three new restaurants.

Councillors are divided on the trade-off of SkyCity paying to upgrade the street in exchange for the biggest airspace licence in central Auckland. Councillor Michael Goudie said he did not believe there was anything controversial about the project. "The development of the airbridge will be a feature in itself," he said. Said councillor Sandra Coney: "I don't think we should fool ourselves this is urban revitalisation. "It's an expansion of the casino and about bringing more people into the casino."

SkyCity's expansion plans endure rough ride
NZ HERALD
5:30 AM Monday Mar 14, 2011

SkyCity's plan to take a slab of airspace over Federal St to expand its convention centre is still on the table after a rocky political ride last week. After the proposal was knocked back by the Waitemata Local Board on Tuesday, a committee of the Auckland Council voted on Thursday for officers to continue working with the casino operator on design elements of the airspace proposal. Senior planning officers were also in the gun for making a "sales pitch" in favour of the proposal and writing a report to politicians leaving out critical comments by the urban design panel and advisory panel for public art when it was outlined last year.

One politician said this was a well-worn tactic of the former Auckland City Council. The three planning officers responsible for the report - Ludo-Campbell Reid, Penny Pirrit and Simon Lough - are former Auckland City staff. In a rare public ticking-off of a council officer, councillor Mike Lee called Mr Campbell-Reid's presentation to the planning and urban design forum a "sales pitch". He said councillors should have been provided with the objective and balanced information they needed to make the right decision and explain to the public.

After Tuesday's knock-back by the local board, the forum rejected the officers' recommendation to support the project in principle in favour of sending officers away to do more work with SkyCity on the project. Forum chairman Cameron Brewer said he was keen to find some middle ground and not push the project off the table. SkyCity wants to build over 48m of Federal St - a quarter of the block between Wellesley and Victoria Sts - to expand its conference facilities from 1500 to 2000 guests. In return, the company has offered to wrap the airbridge in an artwork and pay $10 million to upgrade the tatty block at street level - where the company is already making improvements with plans for three new restaurants.

Councillors are divided on the trade-off of SkyCity paying to upgrade the street in exchange for the biggest airspace licence in central Auckland. Councillor Michael Goudie said he did not believe there was anything controversial about the project. "The development of the airbridge will be a feature in itself," he said. Said councillor Sandra Coney: "I don't think we should fool ourselves this is urban revitalisation. "It's an expansion of the casino and about bringing more people into the casino."

Frankly this baffles me. What exactly are they trying to protect here? Is there some sort of view that i've missed.

Just put it in there and let Sky City fix the street up and save the public a few bucks in the process.

Wow - pedestrian only. This could be great with the new bars and restaurants going in there.

SkyCity to pay $10m to close street
NICK KRAUSE

SkyCity Entertainment Group is continuing its push to cut traffic from its Federal St precinct in central Auckland and even intends paying the $10 million to make it pedestrian-only.

The casino, hotel and conference company, which announced a healthy rise in annual profit to June of $123m - up 20 per cent on last year - had hoped to have the work approved and completed by September 9 for the Rugby World Cup.

But chief executive Nigel Morrison, who has the backing of Auckland Mayor Len Brown for the move, said it had hit a brick wall and it now is unlikely to be ready in time.

The company had hoped the "pedestrianising" of the street - currently a thoroughfare for cabs and buses - would be the finishing touch to the $50-$60m it has invested in adding and upgrading its VIP gaming suites and several new restaurants and bars in time for the World Cup.

"I think what happened is it got caught up in the change of councils, elections and consolidating of the super city," Morrison said.

"We had to reapply for everything and go back to base one... The mayor's supportive of it and wants it to happen - we want it to happen - unfortunately it's a little bit bureaucratic at the moment."

Work cannot be carried out on Federal St - currently festooned in all the competing RWC countries' flags - until after the event.

"If we can get it done early next year, it would be great. We really want it," Morrison said.

"It'll cost about $10m. In some ways it's a gift to Auckland. We're happy to do it.

"Right now it's not a very safe environment with cars and buses. It's a terrible and ugly environment and it could be so much better."

SkyCity has added three new dining concepts to Federal St with Depot by Al Brown and Red Hummingbird by Luke Dallow opening this week and The Grill by Sean Connolly opening on September 2.

New bars will also be ready by the RWC including Chivas at the Deck and Mumm Champagne Bar at Sky Lounge which open on August 24.

The Nation's Clubrooms, formerly the Pacific Room, is a new sports bar that opens on September 9.

The Fortuna restaurant has also had a substantial makeover while the Diamond Room, for premium customers, will have a new outdoor gaming area where punters can smoke from September 30.

SkyCity already has other popular eateries off Federal St including dine by Peter Gordon, a London-based Kiwi celebrity chef, and the tapas bar Bellota across the road.

SkyCity, which is listed on the NZX, yesterday reported revenue for the year was up 4.5 per cent to $810.3m excluding proceeds from the cinemas it sold for $70m in February 2010.

Auckland remains its flagship operation and it recorded big jumps in revenue from gaming machines and its hotel and convention businesses.

The entertainment group also has casinos and hotels in Hamilton, Christchurch, Queenstown as well as Adelaide and Darwin.

Auckland makes the lion's share of revenue and in this past year made $214.9m, up 3.8 per cent on the year before.

- Auckland Now

^^That's great. Hope this happens.

Fantastic news :) Just been for a walk there and the new restaurants (Depot + Red Hummingbird) are awesome - better than anything in North Wharf and Britomart - very busy as well. Sky City Hotel has also fixed up their entrance and it is looking very chi chi. It just goes to show - add some style to an area and the people come in their hundreds :)

I'm pretty sure this will be a shared space. After all the AA building and ASB both have carpark entrances on Federal Street that would be expensive if not impossible to remove. Still though it is great news and I hope this goes through. Federal Street could become another Elliot Street in a part of town sorely lacking pedestrian prioritisation.

Will be interesting how this would be fully pedestriainised - perhaps the middle portion would be pedestrian only and each end shared spaces. Great to see it go ahead.

Will be interesting how this would be fully pedestriainised - perhaps the middle portion would be pedestrian only and each end shared spaces. Great to see it go ahead.

That seems a little messy. It would also prevent access to the Sky City Grand's valet parking area. I hope if it is shared that buses are banned from accessing the space and trucks must have deliveries done by 11am.

I'm pretty sure this will be a shared space. After all the AA building and ASB both have carpark entrances on Federal Street that would be expensive if not impossible to remove. Still though it is great news and I hope this goes through. Federal Street could become another Elliot Street in a part of town sorely lacking pedestrian prioritisation.

Unless they could bust through from the Underground system Skycity uses?
This would mean a lot of vehicles loaded onto Hobson St though...would only work if it were a two way street (*hint hint*)

From AT's latest board meeting (http://www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/about-us/board-members/Documents/Agenda%20Item%209%20-%20Open%20-%20Business%20Report%20-%20February%202012%20Board%20-%20incl%20Att%201.pdf)

Federal Street Shared Space: The traffic assessment has been completed and this indicates that Federal Street is able to function as a shared space. In mid-December, SkyCity advised that they would not proceed with the proposed overbuild, but have indicated a desire to continue with the shared space proposal.

Thanks Dros, I would have preferred the Arts Bridge as well but an upgrade is better than nothing :)

A reminder of what is proposed - minus the skybridge.


http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm228/rytc1980/overview.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm228/rytc1980/street.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm228/rytc1980/low.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm228/rytc1980/Untitled-1.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm228/rytc1980/Untitled2-1.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm228/rytc1980/Untitled3-1.jpg

I assume they realise the benefit this will have to all the new restaurants they're opening along Federal Street's edges.

What about the carpark entrance to the casino? I hope they get rid of that and activate the space.

One proposal was to have it closed leaving just the entrances on the other side and over on Nelson Street - to allow them to further activate the street.

Yeah I know about those. I just wonder which one is the preferred proposal.

To be honest I thought the proposal was dead, but with them winning the conference centre bid I assume they don't need to expand their current venue. I'm also guessing it makes sense for them to consolidate their carpark entrances and make use of the space on Federal street for restaurants as originally planned.

To be honest I thought the proposal was dead, but with them winning the conference centre bid I assume they don't need to expand their current venue. I'm also guessing it makes sense for them to consolidate their carpark entrances and make use of the space on Federal street for restaurants as originally planned.

Yeah I thought they would kill off the air bridge plan if they won. I guess we get a shared space out of this although I still would have preferred the Edge winning and fixing up St James. I can only hope that we find the money for that somehow.

SkyCity, council to split costs for Federal St upgrade
By Bernard Orsman


SkyCity has abandoned plans to take a slab of airspace over Federal St to expand its existing convention centre.

For the past two years, the casino company has faced a rocky ride to build over a quarter of the block in exchange for paying $10 million to upgrade the tatty block at street level.

It is understood the street will still be upgraded under a new agreement whereby the casino company will pay $4.5 million and the council $5.5 million.

Auckland councillors discussed the issue behind closed doors on Monday. A council source said the council and the company were close to signing an agreement significantly different from the original proposal.

The proposal is separate to negotiations between SkyCity and the Government to build a $350 million international convention centre in Hobson St in exchange for more gaming machines and an extension to its licence.

Reports suggest the Government may allow SkyCity to operate up to 500 more machines, which the Problem Gambling Foundation fears will drive an upsurge in gambling addiction.

SkyCity has wanted to expand its existing conference centre in Federal St from 1500 to 2000 seated guests and 1200 to 1600 guests for dining, but a source suggested it had pulled back in light of the $350 million convention centre in Hobson St.

Plans to build over 48m of Federal St - a quarter of the block between Wellesley and Victoria Sts - and wrapping the overbuilding in an artwork were widely criticised.

The former Auckland City Council urban design panel and advisory panel for public art were fundamentally opposed and last year the proposal was knocked back by the Waitemata Local Board. Last night, Waitemata board chairman Shale Chambers said he was pleased the overbuild was not proceeding and welcomed the likely upgrade of Federal St.

In 2010, SkyCity chief executive Nigel Morris said the company was aiming to achieve something that was visually attractive, overwhelmingly positive for the city and would help make SkyCity more of an attractive international destination.

The company did not respond to the latest proposal yesterday.

UPGRADE

* SkyCity has dropped plans to take a slab of airspace over Federal St.
* $10 million upgrade of Federal St still proceeding.
* SkyCity to contribute $5.5m and Auckland Council $4.5m.
* Changes linked to $350m Hobson St convention centre.

I hope the new plan includes shutting off all the entrances to the carpark on Fort Street.

And moving the taxi stand.

And moving the taxi stand.

All the plans I saw had that removed, I think that's a given, they do still plan to keep the entrance to the hotel i.e. the dropoff zone and knowing taxis they'll probably continue to fill the place up despite it being a no parking zone. There were several options for the carparks, one had both the entrance and exit removed, one had the exit retains (but the entrance removed). Doesn't solve the issue of ASB's huge exit/entrance in there however.

In regards to the ASB building, whoever owns it needs to seriously remodel the ground floor layout, there's so much wasted space down there, and it's all so hideously designed that no one lingers there.