I think this major central city space needs its own thread :)

If someone wants to post the images and information from the CCC website - do, if not I'll do it when I get home from work.

I've got some pictures from Christmas time, and you can really see that it needs to be fixed up.

What does everyone think of the tram running through the development?

The slow road - yes or no?

What all the kids protesting at the destruction of "their" space??

Do you think the development should extend down High Street to the intersection of Manchester Street?

Post away!! I'm of to Norwich for the day.............:banana:

I like the idea of the tram running through the development, if they ditch that plan il be dissapointed!

I say kept it a pedestrian mall. You dont want vehicles running thru it. Put a tram thru the whole thing, like Tony said. That would be a boon for the whole area.

The Christchurch City Council have done a lot of good work in relation to revitalising the downtown area. The city mall concept with its slow road is all part of a bigger plan involving gentrification, traffic flows, high density central city living etc.

City Mall has been an absolute disgrace for years, especially the High St part.

The kids have no perception of town planning issues. Their behaviour recently and for the for many previous years is a further disgrace. Many have a bad reputation... loitering, swearing, generally anti social behaviour including abusing Tourists!!! Until they respect our city. its people and visitors, they shouldn't have a say. They can shape up or ship out.

City mall will eventually intergrate a public light rail system and as the central city becomes more densified, downtown Christchurch will come back to life just like other great cities have...in particular, Vancouver.

Dave. The original plan was, and as far as I'm aware still consists of the redevelopment right through to Manchester street. - I have seen the plans.

As for Canterburywatch's comment; there is still an enormous amount of public distrust and boycott of the whole project, this has been more evident recently, especially - and suprisingly - the youth, not the 40-60 brigade taking lead. The historic tracks that were dug up are considered unusable and it is unlikely - without substancial investment - that a continuation of the tram track will continue at this stage.

I say kept it a pedestrian mall. You dont want vehicles running thru it. Put a tram thru the whole thing, like Tony said. That would be a boon for the whole area.

Your opinion, nor mine is valid. There was something like %80 public opinion against the slow road. This means very little to CCC and they will go ahead with creating roads within the mall - regardless of the wish of the masses.

The City Mall is one of Christchurch's most important public and commercial spaces. The area is an iconic part of our City that holds a special place in our hearts and minds. The Mall plays host to our visitors and guests, leaving a strong impression of what Christchurch is. More importantly, it reflects how we care and feel about the heart of our community.

At present, City Mall is in decline. It has been 25 years since the last significant public investment in the area which is borne out by its worn, albeit well-loved, appearance. As a flagship destination within Christchurch, we can't afford for the head of the fleet to sink.

To reinvigorate this vital part of the Central City, we are proposing an ambitious renovation of the City Mall. We believe that strengthening the mall will support broader Central City revitalisation efforts.

Specifically, our proposal for renovating City Mall includes:


developing a promenade along High Street
creating 'Garden Rooms' on Cashel Street with outdoor dining and seating
improving events and recreation space at the intersection of Cashel and High streets
planting more trees
replacing Stewart Fountain with new seating and a signatory public art piece
upgrading the Cashel-Colombo and Hereford-Colombo intersections which are vital connections to the area
building service lanes to clean up delivery traffic in the Mall
possible extension of the tram through City Mall
improving lighting
improving retail management and maintenance in the area


It is our belief that there is no one solution to the City Mall's ills, but that the revival of City Mall must rely on a balanced approach. This proposed design has evolved out of analysis of the challenges facing the Mall and seeks to respond to the area's wide range of users and needs. We believe that this proposal strikes an appropriate balance between all of these desires and ambitions. Most important, we believe that this proposal offers a robust solution that will reinvigorate a vital part of our City.

In 2006 as part of the Long-Term Council Community Plan process (Page 83 LTCCP), the Council agreed that the City Mall area was in need of renovation and allocated $10.5 million for the upgrade of this public space.

Based on that decision, Council staff and consultants developed a renovation plan for the City Mall that incorporated feedback received during a preliminary consultation process. This plan was released for formal comment in September 2006 and public hearings where held in November 2006. Following from this consultation, the plan was further modified to respond to public feedback and a final design was developed. This design was approved by Council on 14 December 2006 and staff were directed to proceed to implementing the renovation plan.

Since that time, detailed designs (i.e. construction documents) have been developed and Council has entered into its first Alliance contract to deliver the City Mall project. The Alliance consists of representatives from Council, designers Isthmus Group, and contractor Downer EDI Works. The Alliance has a dedicated leadership team which meets regularly and functions as the governance body.

Enhancing the environment and making Christchurch more sustainable are core tenets of the City Mall project. At a strategic level, the renovation project is intended to encourage greater use and redevelopment in our Central City in line with the Urban Development Strategy. By focusing on pedestrian amenity and stitching together Central City precincts, the project encourages walking and cycling while at the same time leveraging great access to our commuter bus network. Beyond these broad objectives, other specific examples of Project: City Mall’s commitment to sustainability include:


use of local, long-lasting materials (i.e. low energy use)
increased trees and planting
use of permeable pavers to help manage storm water
re-use of materials removed from the current Mall
recycling stations
cycle racks

Overall concept plan for the City Mall
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/CentralCity/Projects/CityMall/images/ThePlanAugust2007.jpg

Cashel Street Perspective
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/CentralCity/Projects/CityMall/images/CashelOxfordToColomboPerspective.jpg

Cashel and High Streets Intersection
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/CentralCity/Projects/CityMall/images/HackPlazaPerspective.jpg

Cashel and High Streets Perspective
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/CentralCity/Projects/CityMall/images/HighAndCashelPerspective.jpg

Hope they add some sort of Street Art / Water feature and Greenery....seems as though it needs something more .......it is hard to tell by those Renders though :cheers:

That looks really good! I think NZ could use a few more pedestrianised shopping areas like that. I'm a huge fan of anywhere where I don't have to breathe in CO emissions. :)

^^Quite :cool:

Hope they add some sort of Street Art / Water feature and Greenery....seems as though it needs something more .......it is hard to tell by those Renders though :cheers:

Stewart Plaza has had two UGLY fountains before that have never been a sucess. I remember somewhere that there would be a huge emphases on plantings, flowers, light and some water. Safety is is also important as well as trading outside normal hours to ensure the place is alive in the evenings :)

i hope there will be some sort of water feature somewhere. that stewart fountain was fucking horrible, the whole area looked like shit. I think the tram going through the area is a good idea, hopefully it will stimulate the idea of building a public tram/light rail network through the city centre for people to get around. i also think that there needs to be a good mix of accomidation, residential and business mix on the city mall. convert more buildings as well as build up with new one. lane development also linking into the city mall would be really good.

All good ideas! I think they need to improve the area at night... it's kind of the throughway between the two areas of nightlife in the city, and most of the entertainment along the way is from street performers. A few nice bars along the way, plus refurbished lanes would go a long way!

Seating areas along Cashel Street.
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/CentralCity/Projects/CityMall/images/AI1.jpg

View along Cashel Street looking towards the Bridge of Remembrance.
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/CentralCity/Projects/CityMall/images/AI2.jpg

Cashel and High Street Intersection.
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/CentralCity/Projects/CityMall/images/AI3.jpg

Stewart Plaza - Colombo, High and Hereford Intersection.
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/CentralCity/Projects/CityMall/images/AI4.jpg

Gorgeous. Gotta love pedestrian city centres!

Gorgeous. Gotta love pedestrian city centres!

:) Yeah! It will be good with the tram going through, eateries, artwork and more life at night. Hopefully some of the Lane networks should open out to the new mall.

Sometimes it seems like the whole of NZ is getting a major re-furb :banana:

Sometimes it seems like the whole of NZ is getting a major re-furb :banana:

Just yesterday I was thinking the same thing .... change is blowing in on the wind :banana: Now we need to get all the nimby's to Huntly and shut the gates ;)

Just yesterday I was thinking the same thing .... change is blowing in on the wind :banana: Now we need to get all the nimby's to Huntly and shut the gates ;)

Amen to that!!^^

They're really digging the shit out of High street at the moment. woop woop!!

Sometimes it seems like the whole of NZ is getting a major re-furb :banana:


It may just be Nana's scones though petal. Last time I was there she offered me one of her faves and I lost some time and felt distinctly lighter in the pants afterwards! :)

It may just be Nana's scones though petal. Last time I was there she offered me one of her faves and I lost some time and felt distinctly lighter in the pants afterwards! :)

SPACE CAKES !!!! :lol:

It looks great, I can't wait to see it when I'm back. The existing city mall was a bit of an eyesoar, particularly now that Christchurch has become so touristy. One thing Christchurch has got is great scenery it is a beautiful city. That's probably why most people overlook Christchurch's cbd. Is light rail a definite possibility? What would be the cost to implement it?:cheers:

It looks great, I can't wait to see it when I'm back. The existing city mall was a bit of an eyesoar, particularly now that Christchurch has become so touristy. One thing Christchurch has got is great scenery it is a beautiful city. That's probably why most people overlook Christchurch's cbd. Is light rail a definite possibility? What would be the cost to implement it?:cheers:

Check out some of the talk on the CHC transport thread ^^ ^^

It looks great, I can't wait to see it when I'm back. The existing city mall was a bit of an eyesoar, particularly now that Christchurch has become so touristy. One thing Christchurch has got is great scenery it is a beautiful city. That's probably why most people overlook Christchurch's cbd. Is light rail a definite possibility? What would be the cost to implement it?:cheers:

Metroman - we're all curious - do you live in NYC as you personal details say or in Queensland - where is home for you? Where do you physically reside?? If it is Queensland, why have you got NYC by your name??

Just some friendly curiosity? :)

Queensland. How New York came up I'm buggered if I know. Although it could have been during the registration process. What is happening with the square? For as long as I can remember there have been numerous attempts to spruce it up but instead of being a focal point to Christchurch it still needs something extra. Trees. I don't know I'm not a landscaper, but it could be enhanced some how.:nuts:

Queensland. How New York came up I'm buggered if I know. Although it could have been during the registration process. What is happening with the square? For as long as I can remember there have been numerous attempts to spruce it up but instead of being a focal point to Christchurch it still needs something extra. Trees. I don't know I'm not a landscaper, but it could be enhanced some how.:nuts:

Weird - I was thinking the same thing for a thread...............are you a mind reader?

Possibilities for introducing an extension to the existing tram route incorporating an area through the City Mall were presented to the Christchurch City Council at a seminar today.

Public consultation last year showed considerable support for running the city’s tram attraction through the Mall. A tram extension study prepared by consultants Maunsell Ltd looked at the feasibility of this option and today’s resulting seminar suggested that it was feasible and could have wider benefits.

Staff have been asked to bring a preferred route and costings back to Council on 20 September, Council Strategy and Planning Group Principal Adviser Dave Hinman says. Council at that time will decide whether it supports the proposal. Public consultation would still need to be carried out about any extended tram route.

Early indications were that the existing concrete base and tram tracks still in situ in High Street might be reusable, but it has now been determined that the concrete needs to be replaced. The tram rails may still be reusable.

Because of the Project City Mall work now underway in High Street, it was desirable to consider future-proofing the concrete base of the mall so that the options for a future tram extension remained.

"Doing anything retrospectively would be more expensive compared to the marginal cost of doing it now. There would be limited future disruption to the street, if the decision was made further down the track, to proceed with the tram extension," Mr Hinman says.

The study showed that with the extended line, visitor numbers could grow up to 4% per annum and visitor spend could grow by $350,000 per annum.

The new area served by the tram would benefit from the image and publicity, with up to 150,000 extra visitors to the new area per annum.

The consultants’ favoured option for the extension was to leave the existing line at Oxford Tce, travel past the "Strip" and then into Cashel St as far as High St, turning at "Hack Circle" into High St and then proceeding back to Colombo St and through the Square, joining the existing line behind the Cathedral.

The alternative favoured by Council staff and supported by Councillors was similar but would extend the line coming along the City Mall on Cashel St with a right turn down High to Manchester St, turn left into Cashel and then right into High Street. The possibility of the line crossing itself at the High, Cashel corner was also raised, as this would give straight runs down both Cashel and High Streets, and staff were asked to consider this.


Preliminary costings indicated that the extension might cost between $4.6 and $5.6million, depending on which route option was selected.

^^I say go with the tram extension proposal. It'd be great for the City Mall.

That's not particularly expensive either when you are looking at the bigger picture.:banana:

And when you think that it is a small step in the right direction for developing a good regular and safe public transport system, it's well worth it. :)

Surely it would still just be targetted at tourists? Nowhere on the route would be more than 10 mins walk from anywhere else. Would definitely add to the appeal of the Mall though.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g226/DavidEugene/Picture310.jpg?t=1190414437

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g226/DavidEugene/Picture311.jpg?t=1190414520

^^ Man I hate that Holiday Inn building....wish they would give it a refurb!

True story. You can have great parties in the penthouses though:cheers:

^^ Man I hate that Holiday Inn building....wish they would give it a refurb!

It nice on the inside and has great views over the south of the city - which really shows how much work CHC needs doing on it.

So much potential ... they had best stop talking and get cracking !!!

City Mall firms which have faced a sharp drop in trade during the mall refurbishment are now having to wait an extra week to see the project completed.

The revamp of the stretch of the Christchurch mall at the intersection of High, Hereford and Colombo streets was meant to have finished last Friday to clear the area for Christmas shopping, but workers will not finish until the end of this week.

The central city manager for the Central City Business Association, Paul Lonsdale, said the construction work had cut income for some retailers by 30 per cent.

"They have had a few issues there. It is behind, there is no question about that," he said.

"They were not fully prepared for the number of things that went wrong. Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong."

Hanafins Camera and Video, which overlooks the construction work, had seen sales drop compared to the same period last year, said sales consultant Michael Lidski.

"It is absolutely horrible. If you compare any day with the same day last year, the sales are much worse," he said.

"The council could have done the work half a year earlier as this is the main shopping season. They are ruining our business."

Council project director Sean Witaker said the delays were due to quality control.

"We will finish this week. We did not want to compromise on the quality at all," he said.

"It is taking longer to get the quality we needed. We could have finished it faster but we wanted it to be good.

"We underestimated the amount of work. We will be gone by the end of the week."

The delays would not affect the budget as the workmen were being paid for each square metre of paving laid, he said.

New seating areas have been completed and are now open to the public, with each new stretch of paving being opened as soon as it is completed.

Project leaders and City Mall landlords will meet on Thursday to make sure the refurbishment of the rest of the mall next year runs smoothly.

"We do not want them to do it like they did this time," Lonsdale said."

He said retailers were prepared to put up with the temporary fall in revenue as the revamp would bring more custom.

Just did a walk through of the High Street Mall and can see it taking shape. Although its crap grey day today I see this upgrade looking good already- despite the traffic cones and other crap everywhere. We've lost the Asian Food court- shame but the first of the big new retailers is in- Body Shop.

Very glad that ugly fountain is gone- has opened up the space around it.

Pics please ..... pretty please ;)

I honestly think it looks pretty damn average, nothing special at all{yet}. I imagine a NICE big fountain would work wonders for that intersection..

Sounds interesting, but yea, I second Enigma's request for piccs :)

I third that for pictures. Please Christchurch boys....:)

OK, so I know these are not very good pics...didnt really think I would post these..but just saw your posts. The Worlds worst fountain is finally out/demolished/destroyed :cheers:. A New $250,000 centerpiece is to be sited directly behind this pic. Otherwise the project todate is bland....and too rushed, there will be alot of finetuning.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w54/Mikecnz/DSC_0268-2.jpg

Very average and far from finished, council hightailed it out of there last week as you would have read. Bodyshop just past skip, and the Asian food court has been retained and redeveloped...should be ready in a week. At least the airbridge is gone.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w54/Mikecnz/DSC_0269-2.jpg

:)

I'm going to miss the Stewart Fountain. No joke.

I'm going to miss the Stewart Fountain. No joke.

Yeah, I understand... alot of people that grew up with it tend to like it :)...and fair enough i guess.

:)

I hated the the thing! Can you remember the one before that - it was a concret brutalist type thing - not much better. Before that - I don't know what they had.

The Mall does need a water feature somewhere though...a good one...that would match the area, not some new way out type thing...:ohno:

Doesn't look too bad. But hard to tell from these pics I spose.

well the other day i checked out the first stage of the new city mall... and im bitterly disapointed. Its too open to the elements, lacks any green space, is too grey and thus (once again) is open to streams of rubbish and graffiti. Im sorry to say its complete shite. A waste of money and just another cathedral square stuff up. The colour used for the tiles is awful, in fact it hardley looks that different, perhaps even worse than it did beforehand. There appears to be even less seating!

So my verdict? I hate it. Its a pure steaming mug of shit soup. Bland, souless, no character... can i abuse anymore terms? Im sure i could write a novel full of them for this mistake. I hate it.

Oh and im checking it out again tommorrow... so there is a chance i could change my tune for those who disagree with me... but i doubt it.

Thanks for this sensible. I only hope they have got a surprise of two up there sleaves to make you happy. Any chance of some more photos? Have they started working elsewhere?

I aint completely convinced as to the quality of this upgrade. I wait for things to improve.

He's right. it's an utter shit of a job and I think it looked better before. They did a brilliant job with the tiny new rubbish bins that when you're there at 5am on a sunday morning and thousands of drunkards have just had their greasy food have no where to put their rubbish but that intersection. More littered that the worst streets of Cairo. Fucking disgusting!

Why does the tiling have to be grey. Thats such a downer. Are grey tiles cheap at the moment at Placemakers? Id rather they were a terracotta kinda pinky kinda colour.

hate the seats, rubbish bins and shitty plant boxes. I would have prefered more trees incorperated into the mall, not in pots and boxes, also some public art and sculptures wouldnt go a stray. I guess the old nimbeys who got there say on it have won again. :(

I will reserve my judgement until I see it for myself when I visit. Anything has got to be better than the way it was. Is it my imagination, I couldn't help think when I was in Christchurch in May 2007 and May 2004 that much of the city has really become almost a mini Chinatown. While much of Christchurch's cbd is indeed in need of a spruce up, the significant Asian influence and the number of restaurants, cafes and bars have really added some vibrancy to Christchurch. Some aspects of the place are still conservative and stuffy, but I can't help think:) that while many other cities may have experienced more innercity redevelopment in the form of multimillion dollar makeovers, often in the hundreds of millions of dollars, Christchurch has had something of a cultural transformation. That's my observation, from my visits which are usually every 3 years.

Heres the High St section of the mall, the part that is currently being done up. This is an old shot from 4 years ago on a grey winters day. Note the crane for the Hallensteins Building on the corner of Cashel Street Mall. For the record the beuatiful new long awaited Pinnacle Apartment Tower will rise behind and just to the right of the Canterbury Centre/Westpac building. It will be close to twice the height of that building too.

http://climate.envsci.rutgers.edu/Antarctica/ChristcurchDowntown8.19.04.JPG

What's the fascination with all those high pitched roof tops ? Is it part of the local architecture or something to do with the climate ? .... It will make a huge difference if they remove those pitched roof tops and re-face them with I-Beams and glass .... just my observation though.

I think it has to do with snow. Can any one else confirm this?

Many Christchurch buildings are topped with steep-angled roofs. This continues the Gothic Revival tradition - ,this reflects local architecture and is very noticable when you arrive here. The city,s architects continue to incorporate this design style into local projects.

Removing many of these would be akin to topping the skytower, empire state or chrysler building...you just wouldnt do it:ohno:. The recent Park Tce apartments continue the Gothic Revival tradition with a dramatic angled roof line. Collectively they make a statement.

Many Christchurch buildings are topped with steep-angled roofs. This continues the Gothic Revival tradition - ,this reflects local architecture and is very noticable when you arrive here. The city,s architects continue to incorporate this design style into local projects.

Removing many of these would be akin to topping the skytower, empire state or chrysler building...you just wouldnt do it:ohno:. The recent Park Tce apartments continue the Gothic Revival tradition with a dramatic angled roof line. Collectively they make a statement.

Thanks for that, now that I have a better understanding of the vernacular architecture I am warming to it ;) Cheers mate :cheers:

Thanks Mikey, you can learn something new everyday about your home!! :lol:

At 9am this morning here is the Cashel Street Mall.

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6162/photo011808004fm1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And just around the corner, the upgraded part of High Street Mall.

[IMG]http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/810/photo011808005bk1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)[IMG]

:ohno::ohno::ohno: Sorry - that is not rocking my boat at all. I feel we might have a fuck up developing - Bob Parker - where are you???

City Mall, Stewart Plaza, here is the original artist impression



Stewart Plaza - Colombo, High and Hereford Intersection.
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/CentralCity/Projects/CityMall/images/AI4.jpg

Heres how it looks now.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8470/photo011908012np6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

More shots of the area being done up- looks very unfinished IMO. I get the idea and i think once completed it will look good, not sure myself about the predominant grey tiling. At the moment still has a real worksite feel. Excuse photo quality.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/6988/photo011908011de9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/8480/photo011908013gl8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7933/photo011908014qh1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3034/photo011908016bf8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2889/photo011908012dz9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This area is southern end of High Street Mall, looks like preparations in store for its makeover.

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/3481/photo011908008lf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/5241/photo011908010tg3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/9991/photo011908019sn1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/4060/photo011908020ac3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/4164/photo011908018or2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Good photos, always though High St mall was a bit dead and doesnt get anywhere near the foot traffic it should considering were it is. This upgrade isnt the last roll of the dice but it really needs to help. I have faith that our maoyr Mr Parker is dead keen on people moving and shopping in the city centre, I think he will keep a keen eye on the development and tweak it if its needed.

Good Lord, if only I can get my hands on this project ... I look at these pics and the ideas start to flow .... the funny thing is that they won't have to change too much ... with a tweak here and there .... magic !!!

I think it has to do with snow. Can any one else confirm this?

What? how often do you think it snows in chch?

the first pic milan posted of stewart plaza shows how it is just way too open and bare. This is just my opinion but it doesnt feel "anchored". No character, no errrr "cossiness"...

^^ I think you are onto something there. Lacking any real intimacy.

someone needs to give the place a great big hug:)

Pic update 02/02/08 Progress at City Mall
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w54/Mikecnz/DSC_0275-3.jpg
Ugly ANZ.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w54/Mikecnz/DSC_0274-2.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w54/Mikecnz/DSC_0273-3.jpg

Old tram tracks exposed. Being removed this week
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w54/Mikecnz/DSC_0272-4.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w54/Mikecnz/DSC_0271-4.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w54/Mikecnz/DSC_0270-4.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w54/Mikecnz/DSC_0269-4.jpg

Thanks for the photos. And I dunno whats the deal with people not liking the ANZ. It aint that bad- I can think of about 20 buildings downtown I dont like before even thinking of the ANZ. Within eyeshot of the ANZ theres the BNZ headquarters, Tower Life building, Camelot Hotel, Telecom HQ. All of them hideously ugly. I could go on.

Thanks for the photos. And I dunno whats the deal with people not liking the ANZ. It aint that bad- I can think of about 20 buildings downtown I dont like before even thinking of the ANZ. Within eyeshot of the ANZ theres the BNZ headquarters, Tower Life building, Camelot Hotel, Telecom HQ. All of them hideously ugly. I could go on.

With the ANZ..I don't like how it cuts the square off from the Mall. The building sort of 'turns it's back' on the square. Then there is the vertical blinds and the computer cabling that shows through street level windows. Just ugly architecture with no thought for position. Personally I dont mind BNZ headquarters.I like the cladding and reflective glass, and street level is more pedestrian friendly. I think ok for a 40 yr old. Agree that Telecom is a monstrosity.

What is happening with the removal of the tram track? I thought there was an indication that this might be part of the extension of the tram. The tram would really bring this part of the city to life.

What is happening with the removal of the tram track? I thought there was an indication that this might be part of the extension of the tram. The tram would really bring this part of the city to life.

Hey Metroman, dont worry, new tracks are replacing the old. Here's an article from Feb 1st from CCC.

Trees removed from City Mall .
1 February 2008
Three trees were removed this morning from the western end of Hack Circle as work starts again at City Mall.

Preliminary site investigations identified the need to remove the trees, along with seating and brickwork, to allow work to be carried out in the area. The root systems of the trees are embedded in surrounding concrete and would cause significant construction problems.

The decision was made in consultation with arborists, and the trees will be replaced with more appropriate species for the urban environment. The trees, two oaks and a lime tree, were not on the city’s list of protected trees.

Project Director Sean Whitaker says the construction roll-out will see trees retained where possible. The new City Mall design includes an increased number of trees in the pedestrian area.

Work on Stage 1b of Project City Mall started this week with the breaking-up of old tram foundations on High Street. It will include the laying of new tram foundations, utility installation, paving and amenities along High Street, and is expected to reach the Hallensteins building by June. It will also include the removal of the eastern edge of Hack Circle to allow site access and allow vehicles and pedestrians to use the area safely.

Meetings are being held with local retailers every week to explain the work schedule and promote discussion on how construction can be rolled-out with as little disruption to business as possible.

“The top end of High Street looks great and people are enjoying the new amenities. We are keen to push on with the next stage of the project, working with retailers to create an enticing new City Mall,” Mr Whitaker says.

The aim of Project City Mall is to create an exciting public space and a vibrant retail centre that will attract more people into the Central City and boost business for City Mall retailers.

Source: http://www.ccc.govt.nz/MediaReleases/2008/February/01085227.asp

Cheers

With the ANZ..I don't like how it cuts the square off from the Mall. The building sort of 'turns it's back' on the square. Then there is the vertical blinds and the computer cabling that shows through street level windows. Just ugly architecture with no thought for position. Personally I dont mind BNZ headquarters.I like the cladding and reflective glass, and street level is more pedestrian friendly. I think ok for a 40 yr old. Agree that Telecom is a monstrosity.

I think the problem here isn't so much the building overall, but who the building or at least the ground floor is tennanted to.

The ground floor should really be used for retail shopping and or cafe's etc rather than a bank. To my mind, banks dont really help to create atmosphere like shops and cafes. Take a look down hereford st from Colombo to Manchester - It isn't a particularly pedestrian hospitable street.

Ideally I'd like to see the square look like many of the city squares found in smaller european centres such as Brugge in Belgium, all lined with cafe's and restaurants etc amongst some good architecture. Sadly, I think Chch has missed the boat in the architecture line of thought as while we have some good buildings, they then to be mixed with hideous eyesores (Telecom building comes to mind here)

“The top end of High Street looks great and people are enjoying the new amenities."

This could easily be made into one of those Tui ads.

Next stage of High Street upgrade in full swing. Walked past today to see they have dug about 1.5 metres down into the street. Was too busy to take some photos for you. Wouldnt be able to see much of the actual work taking place as were big crowds about.

Its good that they are future-proofing it with the laying of tramline foundations.

19 March 2008

Seating atHack Circle in City Mall is being removed this week as Project City Mall pushes through High Street.

The Hack Circle area has become congested and the seating needs to be removed to allow safe thoroughfare for construction vehicles and pedestrians.

Seating will also make way for construction buildings, which need to be moved because work is progressing along High Street. Street lighting was taken out yesterday, to allow the safe removal of the seats this week.

Seating for pedestrians and Central City workers is available further along Cashel Street and at the top of High Street in the completed stage of the City Mall revitalisation project. New seating and amenities for Hack Circle are included in the project design.

Work on Project City Mall is progressing to schedule along High Street, and Project Director Sean Whitaker says the team has been working closely with affected retailers to ensure as little disruption as possible.

Some retailers recently raised the issue of work timeframes along High Street. Mr Whitaker says he has reassured those retailers that work is progressing as quickly as possible and is running to schedule for Stage 1b – set to be completed as far as the Hallensteins building by June.

“The excavation and foundation work that has been carried out since January is the most time-consuming part of work. We have just starting paving the area and progress will be more visible in the coming weeks.

“We have as many staff on the ground as possible, working as quickly as they can. We acknowledge that retailers are affected while construction goes on, and we are committed to working as closely as possible with them,” he says

Weekly meetings are held with retailers to keep them up to date with progress and hear any concerns they raise. Construction compromises have already been made, including the stopping of noisy rock-breaking during busy lunch periods and the installation of signage to encourage pedestrians to keep using High Street.

Its good that they are future-proofing it with the laying of tramline foundations.

17 March 2008

The Christchurch City Council is initiating a public consultation to provide for trams in the City Mall as it gears up for a wider consultation to extend the tramway in central city.

The Council, in its Annual Plan, allocated $550,000 to install tram rails along with the concrete base that is being constructed as part of the service lane of the City Mall upgrade project.

A Special Consultative Procedure (SCP) begins on Monday and will call for submissions to be made on the proposal to amend the Special Order that currently designates the Mall for pedestrians and service vehicles only. The SCP entails wide-ranging consultation, submissions gathering and a public hearing on the issue.

“The only change to the Special Order being proposed is to add “trams” in the section that allows for the types of vehicles that can pass through the Mall,” says Dave Hinman, Principal Adviser for the Council on Central City Projects.

“This is not a general consultation about whether other traffic should be allowed into the Mall - it is specifically asking the question about the tram,” says Mr Hinman.

He says the SCP is the first part of the wider consultation the Council will undertake to determine the extended tram route. If the SCP is agreed to, it will allow the Council to proceed with the laying of tracks as part of the concrete base construction, as well as retrofit that part of High Street where the base is already laid (as an integral part of the City Mall upgrade).

Following a lengthy study on the proposal to extend the tramway, a safety audit on the tram extension has been completed and has confirmed that all the safety issues have been addressed. The consultation on the route of the extension will go out to the public in early April.

^^Good news there. I'd say there will be no probs with the consultation as most people would be supportive of trams wouldn't they?

^^Good news there. I'd say there will be no probs with the consultation as most people would be supportive of trams wouldn't they?

I can't see why anyone would object. This is the start of a proper tram network I hope. It' is also going to help liven up and spur development in this part of the city.

This link takes you to the CCC consultation document with good maps, intentions and explanations of what is being proposed.

The sooner they get on with it, the better I say! :)

http://www.ccc.govt.nz/HaveYourSay/pdfs/ProposalToVaryTheCityMallSpecialOrder2008.pdf

And before work today I took a few shots of the Mall's progress. I was in a rush so excuse quality. The seating on the corner of High and Cashel was being destroyed. Lots of loud noises form the macinery, the big kid I am was compelled by all this. Good news that the corner seating is gone, I'm sure it had bad feng shui. Positive energy never seemed to find that spot. :)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/2835/hsmdn1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/2299/hsm2rw3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/4341/hsm3ku6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Although it is hard to tell, it is starting to get an innercity look or feel to it. It kind of reminds me of Cuba Mall.

Thanks for those shots ML.:)

I'm so glad that corner of the mall is being delt with. All those horrid yobs that use to hang out there gave the place a real bad feel. Hopefully with the tram, planting and shopping all coming alive along there, this part of the city will bounce to life :banana:

Thanks for those shots ML.:)

I'm so glad that corner of the mall is being delt with. All those horrid yobs that use to hang out there gave the place a real bad feel. Hopefully with the tram, planting and shopping all coming alive along there, this part of the city will bounce to life :banana:

Totally agree.. those horrid yobs are a disgrace to the city.. I cringe to think what tourists must think of their behaviour. Hopefully they will move on somewhere else (preferably a firey lava pit). However with the likes of Councillor Yani Johanson defending their rights to loiter in city mall, I think we may not see the end of the yobs. :bash:

Everytime I go into city mall during the day there is either some boozehag screaming her head off or some low life scummy drunk shouting obscenities. Totally antisocial and to be honest I feel more comfortable walking the streets of London, New York or Sydney than I do in Chch.:ohno:

Zero tolerance policy on the yobs is the only way to go!:)

Totally agree.. those horrid yobs are a disgrace to the city.. I cringe to think what tourists must think of their behaviour. Hopefully they will move on somewhere else (preferably a firey lava pit). However with the likes of Councillor Yani Johanson defending their rights to loiter in city mall, I think we may not see the end of the yobs. :bash:

Everytime I go into city mall during the day there is either some boozehag screaming her head off or some low life scummy drunk shouting obscenities. Totally antisocial and to be honest I feel more comfortable walking the streets of London, New York or Sydney than I do in Chch.:ohno:

Zero tolerance policy on the yobs is the only way to go!:)

You are so right CW. I feel safer in London than CHC and I really mean that. My inlaws even commented on the behaviour of yobs when they were over from England two Christmas' ago.

As for that Yani Johanson - he should be hung out - I convinced he is just argumentative for the sake of it.

How many extra kilometres will the extension of the tram be?

How many extra kilometres will the extension of the tram be?

Not sure, the consultation document should say. I'm just getting excited that is is the embreo stage of a light rail network that could envelope the city :banana:

Sounds exciting. I am just wondering how or if Riccarton Road will be part of a future light rail route. It would certainly need to be well planned as in some places the building of such a network would be very difficult. I would love to see it. I think commuter rail on the outskirts would be much easier to implement even if it only started with a few services. I would say that this may eventuate first.^^

Totally agree.. those horrid yobs are a disgrace to the city.. I cringe to think what tourists must think of their behaviour. Hopefully they will move on somewhere else (preferably a firey lava pit). However with the likes of Councillor Yani Johanson defending their rights to loiter in city mall, I think we may not see the end of the yobs. :bash:
Zero tolerance policy on the yobs is the only way to go!:)

Come on, no loitering in a city centre is so militant and uh free will. No matter how 'different' people are than you and I they should still have the same rights as all of us and no matter how many times I've walked past all those 'alternitave' people I've never really seen nor heard any actual trouble open your eyes people much of the developed world is much much worse.

Come on, no loitering in a city centre is so militant and uh free will. No matter how 'different' people are than you and I they should still have the same rights as all of us and no matter how many times I've walked past all those 'alternitave' people I've never really seen nor heard any actual trouble open your eyes people much of the developed world is much much worse.

Was being a bit tongue and cheek to be honest Cartel.. re lava pitts and all. No one is advocating taking away the rights of any people including the citizens of Christchurch who shouldnt be denied the right to a safe city. But there is sometimes a really bad anti social element in City Mall regardless. I consider myself to be 'alternative' as you put it but I don't act anti-socially and disgrace the city in front of visitors and residents alike

I'm sure the revitalisation of the Mall and the goal to boost the inner city population will have a positive affect on the whole downtown area.

When I was there last May I noticed a lot of alternative types, a number of backpackers but found the place to be very tourist friendly. Everyone went out of their way to make you feel welcome. It will be a lot nicer once the City Mall and other parts of the Cbd are tidied up. It will give the city much more of an upmarket image which is what is needed.

Starting to look good, although I still think it looked fine the way it was though.
A photo from today
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/4281/img0020fx4.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2008-04-01
The others were blurry.
Hopefully some more tomorrow

Bit more of the goings on.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/7890/citymallmk4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Nice. It looks like a water colour. :D

^^ Jeez MA if only I had the time to spend a few hours sitting there painting. Honestly when I whipped through earlyish this morning it was just after the office workers had left the streets. Left me in the company of the track suit with jandal wearers, the terminally bewildered, and the crazy short man who sings loudly to his tranny radio that isnt even properly on the station. What made it worse was that my car was being serviced and I had to catch a bus. Today not a good day. :ohno:I'll stop my rant before getting told off for going off topic.

You don't mean Radio Ron do you?

^^ Is that his name? I dont know his moniker but I think we might be talkin bout the same person- everyone seems to know him, he's our own little wierd person. Every town has one (some towns have many!) Like back in Brissy everyone knew the grubby old Nun from who used to race through town at 100 clicks an hour.

And before we get told off for being off topic this is relevant, Radio Ron (if it is him) spend most of his time in the Cashel Street Mall.

You don't mean Radio Ron do you?

Right up there with other colourful Christchurch characters like the Wizard. Im a bit young to really remember but does anyone remember the Birdman, Bible Lady or even the 'Dog man'???

Its going to be really interesting to see how this all turns out, I really was disapointed with the first stage, too open and too bare. Maybe the Tram will add some flavour?

They used to be in the square, it sounds like they have relocated. I remember another bloke who used to be called Gi Joe. He was in the square and used to be decked out like a GI helmet and all. That nun sounds like a hard case.

Right up there with other colourful Christchurch characters like the Wizard. Im a bit young to really remember but does anyone remember the Birdman, Bible Lady or even the 'Dog man'???

Its going to be really interesting to see how this all turns out, I really was disapointed with the first stage, too open and too bare. Maybe the Tram will add some flavour?

There are a few dog men now, quite alot of stand out characters really. I had lunch in the mall today. I still stress it looks like utter bollocks, not happy with it at all. If you're going to do something, do it right, not half assed like this pompus waste of money!

^^ its at its worst on a sunday morning, looks like a tip.

I know what you are getting at. That corner outside KFC, across from (whatelse) McD's, Time Zone and Burger King that seems to be a hotbed of activity from midnight to 6am. Filled with the kind of people too drunk, too young, too aggressive or too mental to be able to gain access to any clubs.

Im not suggesting every other city in the world is in a better state on a Sunday morning but thats no excuse for not having this central city location spick and span all cleaned up before the the city resumes normal activity. And unlike letters to the editor of the Press Im not one for saying what do Bob and Marilyn from Indianapolis think when they walk past all this. They have it at least as bad or much worse in their own cities. Besides they are heavily jet lagged anyway.

Its just not necessary, even in this day and age of 3% unemployment there must be people out there who can be hired as 'immediate' on the spot streetsweepers.

^^ its at its worst on a sunday morning, looks like a tip.

yeah especiialy then, it's fucking disgusting:ohno:

And just to add to this current grumpyness, the bridge of Remembrance aint much cop first thing on a Sunday morning. You can excuse that seeing as though it is a mingling area for those getting a break from the bustle of the Strip. What I can not excuse is that its often not until afternoon Sunday or even sometimes Monday that the fast food wrappers, broken bottles, expelled dinners are eventually cleaned up by city workers.

Something like 6 tourists got attacket in the mall on friday night, I think a couple got stabbed. There was a decent sized pool of blood when we walked past about 4am on our way to the casino.

Something like 6 tourists got attacket in the mall on friday night, I think a couple got stabbed. There was a decent sized pool of blood when we walked past about 4am on our way to the casino.

:ohno::ohno::ohno::ohno:What is the matter with central CHC?? I really hope the redevelopment of City Mall will flush out all the horrible shit that exists in the city.

Last weekend in New York, that was HEAVING with so many different types of people, we did not once feel unsafe or threatened. It disgusts me that CHC has a developing reputation as a unsafe place to be.

:)Well on a positive note, i think the mall upgrade is starting to look half-decent. Dero-circle has finally been destroyed.:banana: The next two stages should have a big impact.

Cleaning needs to happen at about 6.00am on Saturday and Sunday morning, it is fairly trashed by the previous nights ramage.

The Rocks in Sydney, Darlinghurst and the Cross all look like crap on weekend mornings, but SCC has 'full-on' cleaning starting early enough to finish before everyone is up and about.

Something from the last couple of days. In addition to working hard on finishing the High Street Mall work has started on the west side of the Cashel and Colombo corner. Council says they want to hit this project hard and get it over with asap. A couple of the scragley old trees outside Ballantynes have been removed. Well their ugly stumps were still sticking out today when I went past. I think the removal of these trees is a good idea. Primarily because they were in odd places which didnt help the pedestrian flow, everyone gets bunched up between the trees, phone boxes, safety barriers and other crap. Flush that shit out and get the mall looking a bit more modern.

The new version on Stewarts corner has destractors (Im in that group too sometimes) yet I think the finished product will look good. Bear in mind its winter, theres no green, its still a noisy dusty building site that isnt the nicest of places to view the city going by.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll10/milanluka/morehsm3.jpg

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll10/milanluka/morehsm.jpg

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll10/milanluka/morehsm2.jpg

Sorry guys but this must be the saddest upgrade I have seen in all of NZ..

Yeah it doesnt look too good in the pic taken. Phone pics are all over the chch forums these days....:ohno:. Good for updates 'i guess' but no light, focus, or colour. Shite pics really. The mall upgrade will be nothing spectacular. Just an 'updated' version of what was already there (with the tram added at some future stage). It will still be a 'big' improvement on what was possibly the worst pedestrian mall (cashel) found in any of NZs main cities. This project carries over from the previous mayors 'decade of destruction', the project may have been more radical if Parker had have been in control.

I think the finished product should look similar to Napiers Emerson (?)Street. Although its been a few years since I was up that way I was impressed with the look, colour and ambience of the pedestrian streets there.

And as had been noted. Any upgrade would look better than what it currently is. Last upgrade finished in 1993 give or take a year. I think city centre upgrades have to be done frequently especially now when there is competition from suburban malls which is a huge issue in Chch. Im happy for my rates contribution to go towards tweaking and redoing the city centre every say 5 years or so.

Granted the photos arent of the best quality but they're better than nought. Maybe I should wait til sunny days only when onlly beautiful people are about or until I get rid of my treo and buy a proper camera. ;-) Anyone and everyone else is welcome to get off their tukush and update these threads with photos as well. Just a suggestion.

Just lifted out of the local Christchurch Mail.

CITY MALL PROJECT-

Construction at Project City Mall's second work area along Cashel Street, west of Colombo, started this week. It extends from the ASB Bank and Ballantynes' western-most door and will move towards the Bridge of Remembrance. The existing work site will continue along High St, before turning at Hack Circle, then heading west along Cashel. Project director Sean Whitaker said retailers would face more disruption, but opening up two fronts would get the job "out of the way" faster.

I don't think people are criticising the photos, but the lack of vision in the project overall. This is supposed to bring shoppers back into the CBD... changing the colour of the pavers and moving some trees isn't going to do that...

i totally agree... im hoping it will get better, more greenage and hopefully more life once the tram is in... but its very depressing. What happened to christchurch!!!??? such a waste sometimes.

Hmm, yea you just can't make a good judgment about this project from those pics. (Not criticising you though milan- at least you make the effort to take pics).

hey i took a walk through city mall today (from high-colombo-hereford intersection to cashel) and..... it isnt as bad as i first thought! actually its quite good (needs WAAAY more green though) and seems to have encouraged a lot of development. Theres heaps of new cafes and a new fancy walk-thru international food court in the old woolworths that replaces the old crappy one. All in all im pleasantly surprised and with the tram going through it it should look even better.

One thing i liked was the mass of (respectable) foot traffic, lots of proffs getting lunch and coffees etc.

However, while im liking it more its still not as good as it should be... but its no longer a disaster in my books.

Today:

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5607/p1907081254bf7.jpg

I'm gonna miss this skybridge – just for the views. I know it doesn't serve much of a purpose anymore, as the Triangle Centre is no longer the mini-mall it used to be.

I am liking the Mall. The finished area by Hereford Street has some color now and with the sun shining today it kinda made more sense in what they are trying to achieve.

The following photo will not convey any of the good stuff- you are just looking at construction

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3024/high04augnm9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

New Christchurch sculpture revealed

Christopher Moore - The Press | Thursday, 07 August 2008

http://www.stuff.co.nz/images/745945.jpg
Is it a plant form? Is it a techno-tepee? A towering contemporary icon?


Meet Flour Power, Christchurch's newest public sculpture, commissioned by the Christchurch City Council's Public Art Advisory Group, created by Wellington-based artist Regan Gentry and inspired by the changing face of Canterbury.

Gentry's design - an elegant, 13m-high sheaf of illuminated metal plant forms - was revealed in Christchurch last night.

The sculpture will be installed in the Stewart Plaza on the corner of High and Colombo streets before being officially unveiled during next month's SCAPE 2008 Christchurch Biennale of Art in Public Space.

"Flour Power will give the appearance that a giant has walked through the city, gathering lamp-posts like flowers, collecting them into a bunch, wrapping a tyre around them and placing the whole lot as a centrepiece in the Stewart Plaza," Gentry said.

"Flour Power has a point to make. In Canterbury, fields of crops have given way to fields of houses. Rows of wheat have been replaced by rows of streetlights. Farm tractors have grown smaller and multiplied exponentially, growing sleeker and faster, modified to `pull chicks' instead of ploughs."

The $250,000 work, funded by the city council ($100,000) and the Stewart family ($150,000), is the first public sculpture to be commissioned by the recently reinstated Public Art Advisory Group.

The group comprises representatives of the Christchurch Art Gallery, the council's strategy and planning unit and the Art & Industry Biennial Trust. Other members include an independent curator-art historian, Lara Strongman, and city councillor Claudia Reid.

The group is chaired by Anthony Wright, director of the Canterbury Museum and chairman of the Art & Industry Biennial Trust.

Flour Power will stand on the site of the former Stewart Fountain. It is the seventh permanent artwork involving the trust.

The earlier works are Phil Price's 2006 kinetic sculpture Nucleus, at the corner of High, Manchester and Lichfield streets, Peter Roche's 2004 Circuit, at the Arts Centre clocktower, and Bill Culbert's neon sculpture Blue, at the Christchurch Convention Centre.

But wondering what it will look like during the Day ? :nuts:

well it doesnt look too bad, reckon it will grow on me... that particular area is quite bland since it was completed so this could be just what is needed.

Ha. We've got the poorly-rolled joint in the square, and now we're getting incense sticks.

Some Pictures I took today.
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/7755/img0009ob1.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2008-08-06
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/3926/img0007em7.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2008-08-06
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7696/img0004lw4.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2008-08-06
From top of Unlimited
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/4921/img0017mf0.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2008-08-06
The City Mall is looking better than I thought it would.
The sculpture is certainly interesting.

Doesn't look too bad from those pics, but is still hard to tell without seeing it for myself.

The City Mall will look a lot better in the spring when the trees grow (green) leaves.

New Christchurch sculpture revealed

Christopher Moore - The Press | Thursday, 07 August 2008

http://www.stuff.co.nz/images/745945.jpg


The sculpture is being put up today.
I will try to get a photo tomorrow

nice....im still waiting on something on a more grand scale to go up though

New Christchurch sculpture revealed

Christopher Moore - The Press | Thursday, 07 August 2008

http://www.stuff.co.nz/images/745945.jpg



nice....im still waiting on something on a more grand scale to go up though



i not saying i don't like this sculpture, in fact i think it's very good that chc is getting some artistic inclusions in the urban landscape, but, how about this..

solar trees adelaide
http://www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au/completed_projects/riverbank_precinct

solar trees milan
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=50934

- provides (some) shade and power plus it looks good!

Hmmm....I dunno what to say about the new 'sculpture'...

How about this??
http://www.re-access.com/assets/images/story/2007/12/24/solar_tree_2_milan_credit_%20unknown.jpg

If only someone from the council had bothered to do some research!

But count yourself lucky! Atleast you arent getting seagulls

The Sculpture (not finished yet):
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/6876/img0015zf6.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2008-09-05
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/465/img0019is9.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2008-09-05

also don't know how I managed to get this one (the bird):
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1627/img0016jx7.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2008-09-05

Can't wait to see it at night.

Excellent Mat. It looks much better thant I thought it would. As you say, I can't wait to see it at night.

I hope some sort of water feature(s) will be introduced into the mall - as well as else where in the city. Water always helps in softening the environment. The only problem is that it also attracts dick heads who want to muck it up.

Love the seagull shot:)

hmm... street lights?.. ok seriously wasn't expecting that :nuts:.. is this what they do with all the scrap streetlights? :lol:

Ok I take my words back! Looks GREAT!

Much better than anything here in Auckland :applause:

Looks good in "real life" - the height certainly gives it some presence.

I'd hope that the lights can change colour if need be....but that might be asking too much.

The design im not so sure about but lighting up is a great idea. I know its a long shot but would to see our cities light up more at night like the Asian cities do. Christchurch is getting a fair amount of this kind of thing. Im for it.

The design im not so sure about but lighting up is a great idea. I know its a long shot but would to see our cities light up more at night like the Asian cities do. Christchurch is getting a fair amount of this kind of thing. Im for it.

Man, they just love the bling here in KL....its everywhere. Outlines on the buildings, dangling from trees, wrapped around the lamp posts....all in all looks pretty good.

^^ I know what you mean KLK. I have a photo of myself taken in Merdeka Square at night. With all those lights its absolutely beautiful.

I think that lighting- as simple as it is- is just one of those things that helps to foster a feeling of safety in the central city as well. Even though Christchurchers like to think we live in South Central nothing is further from the truth.

^^ I know what you mean KLK. I have a photo of myself taken in Merdeka Square at night. With all those lights its absolutely beautiful.

You mean Sultan Abdul Samad?

By night:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Sultan_Abdul_Samad_National_Day.jpg/800px-Sultan_Abdul_Samad_National_Day.jpg

By day:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Kuala_Lumpur_Sultan_Abdul_Building.jpg/800px-Kuala_Lumpur_Sultan_Abdul_Building.jpg


(both from Wikipedia)

^^

That looks like the Dunedin Railway Station gone Asian

haha - I guess it does. Although the style is called "Moorish" (I think).....

i think that fact that they're doing up the malls at all is awesome...those downtown malls have so much potential but are so horribly 80s and depressing, i'm all for any innovation.

i think that fact that they're doing up the malls at all is awesome...those downtown malls have so much potential but are so horribly 80s and depressing, i'm all for any innovation.

Lets face it - other than a Manawatu NPC title and Samantha Fox, nothing good came of the 80s.....

Man, they just love the bling here in KL....its everywhere. Outlines on the buildings, dangling from trees, wrapped around the lamp posts....all in all looks pretty good.

you mean something like this?

http://bp2.blogger.com/_OA0cqGVC2vc/RxDmbnWKf9I/AAAAAAAAARc/Y9o2kIMa5oU/s1600-h/GardenKL07.jpg

but yeah definitely agree - adds more character to the area.

sorry everyone.. :nuts:

Man, they just love the bling here in KL....its everywhere. Outlines on the buildings, dangling from trees, wrapped around the lamp posts....all in all looks pretty good.

you mean something like this?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OA0cqGVC2vc/RxDmbnWKf9I/AAAAAAAAARc/Y9o2kIMa5oU/s1600/GardenKL07.jpg

but yeah definitely agree - adds more character to the area..

i think that fact that they're doing up the malls at all is awesome...those downtown malls have so much potential but are so horribly 80s and depressing, i'm all for any innovation.

horribly 80's and depressing, :lol:.. too true, and what's more, horibble dated 90's websites to match..


Exhibit A

http://www.southcity.co.nz/images/front1.jpg
http://www.southcity.co.nz/

i mean honestly when you think about it South city has a loOOt of land to play around with... and then there's the idea of, oh i dunno perhaps building a second layer? - I mean the city council is trying to attract people into the city right?? and like is said South city has LOTS of land at the front (a quick look at the parking area in front via googlemaps shows just over 3 acres or 12158 m² - and in comparison the entire complex takes up 35189 m² (378776 ft²) or 8.695 acres) - maybe they can put the parking unerground and then perhaps a small parking building or perhaps unerground parking and then parking on the roof - similar to the larger suburban shopping centres.. mini bus exchange perhaps? with the intention of turning it into a light rail interchange station (-ok maybe this is too ambitious, esp for chch)?

anyway getting off topic here..

Hi guys. don't think this has been posted yet..


http://www.ccc.govt.nz/CentralCity/Projects/CityMall/ProjectCityMallUpdate.pdf


fast forward to the "City Mall tram gets the go-ahead" :banana: section (Page 2)

"however a final decision on the wider route will not be made until the middle of next year, when funding is debated through the Council's long-term planning process"

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1627/img0016jx7.jpg

^^ Its nice but the 'bottom' streetlight part is kinda ugly

I like it

walked past yesterday and looks a lot better in the flesh... i like it

Looks interesting - I look forward to checking it out for real when i'm back in Chch

City mall is looking great with the trees sprouting leaves.
I didn't think that it would happen so soon, but tram tracks are being put between Colombo street and the bridge

^^ its only being done now so they dont have to rip it up again to lay the tracks in future...

Why didn't they lay tracks in the rest of the city mall?
I started school today,Very noisy at the moment

Why didn't they lay tracks in the rest of the city mall?


because the only part of the route actually decided on is that from oxford tce to high st... the initial proposal was for the tracks to head straight on to manchester and loop back around onto high street and towards cathedral square... however this part hasnt been finalised and is further complicated by additional proposals to extend the tracks further on to CPIT. So tracks havnt been laid on the high st part of city mall yet (if they ever will).

Some pics from Saturday and yesterday:
http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/5828/img0005qm8.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2008-10-22
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/1338/img0026ec0.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2008-10-22
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/293/img0038nx2.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2008-10-22
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/268/img0013cv1.th.jpg (http://img293.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0013cv1.jpg)http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/5866/img0030yp6.th.jpg (http://img219.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0030yp6.jpg)

^^Thanks Matt.

OMG - it all looks soooo depressing. That picture of Ballyntines with that dumb ute thing makes Chc look like hicksville.:ohno::ohno::ohno:

THANK GOD THE COUNCIL HAVE PUT OUT THE CONSULTATION PLAN ABOUT CENTRAL CITY DEVELOPMENT AND CHRISTCHURCH'S BAD BUILDINGS AND DESIGN.

I hate those planters - THEY LOOK SO CHEAP. I'm sure they have been around since the 1980's.

what a shite job they have done. is the use of all those patches of different bricks supposed to be artistic? :ohno: Rubbish bins crap, seats crap, planters crap, bricks crap, all crap. I don't think I can ever walk past there again!

it looks better than i thought it was going to be though. Being a shittly gloomy day doesnt help either. I must say when i have walked down the completed bit it feels a shitload better than it was so it aint the end of the world.

seriously Davee i that ute could have turned up in any city! :D

^^Thanks Matt.

OMG - it all looks soooo depressing. That picture of Ballyntines with that dumb ute thing makes Chc look like hicksville.:ohno::ohno::ohno:

THANK GOD THE COUNCIL HAVE PUT OUT THE CONSULTATION PLAN ABOUT CENTRAL CITY DEVELOPMENT AND CHRISTCHURCH'S BAD BUILDINGS AND DESIGN.

Where can i find out more about the consultation process?

Where can i find out more about the consultation process?

Front page of the CHC city council web page.

^^ went for a walk thru the completed bit, its not that bad (mind you i went on a nice day) it could be shitloads better though

The hodge-podge of paving styles isn't good.

Personally I don't think its any better than before

The hodge-podge of paving styles isn't good.

I agree completely, Flyin'. I'd rather see a uniform approach to paving. Unfortunately we have the same problem on Queen Street now with some segments of the old red paving remaining.

Personally I think the Chch City Mall looked before before from what I've seen in photos.

Shit that is ugly!

I agree completely, Flyin'. I'd rather see a uniform approach to paving. Unfortunately we have the same problem on Queen Street now with some segments of the old red paving remaining.

Personally I think the Chch City Mall looked before before from what I've seen in photos.


im far from pleased with the results but to say 'it was better before' is hardly true. City mall was a cess pit. Now its far far more user friendly and is reflected by the number of new cafes and shops which have opened up along the so far completed area. On friday i had lunch there in perfect weather and i actually warmed to it. The problem is that they could do a lot more but ill say this... i like the paving, i like the bins and the seats were nice to sit on. The old city mall was shabby, shit and smelt funny and id usually run through it.

Those photos were taken in atrocious conditions (not the photographers fault, good to see someone with a camera out there) seriously you actually need to go there and have experienced the old mall to realise its an improvement by truckloads.

also most of those photos are actually of areas still under construction and hardly represent the finished product and the two that do show anything are at odd angles (no hassle to matt, great to see someone out there clicking away). I was very critical of this projects direction yet, apart from the stewart plaza (which has been improved by the sculpture) what i have experienced at ground level is a massive improvement and it is clearly much more popular with those working in the cbd. One thing im pretty happy with is that they have planted heaps of trees at strategic points and that they have created a lot of open space.

I think this is definitely a project I can't judge until i've seen it for my own eyes.

Some photos from Monday. Better day than last time i took some photos. Bad day today though.
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/6180/img0135gm1.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2008-10-28
http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/9131/img0139ph0.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2008-10-28


I didn't realise how much rubbish there was on the ground, looking at the photo today.

^^You took the words right out of my mouth!! The rubbish makes it look even worse.

Still.........perhaps these few things may make a difference....

Tram.

People eating and having coffee outside.

The trees maturing.

Flowers.

Banners.

Get rid of the cars parking!!!

Good night lighting.

People using the area.

Highlight the heritage buildings more.

^^You took the words right out of my mouth!! The rubbish makes it look even worse.

Still.........perhaps these few things may make a difference....

Tram.

People eating and having coffee outside.

The trees maturing.

Flowers.

Banners.

Get rid of the cars parking!!!

Good night lighting.

People using the area.

Highlight the heritage buildings more.

this looks like early morning???? the cars arent usually parked there and it is actually packed during the day with people everywhere, which is good to see. remember its not finished yet, even this bit so you will see some contruction vehicles etc. Im not a huge fan of the designs myself but it ended up being much better than i expected. iv experienced it myself and can say its nothing like what people on here (who havnt been through it) are saying.

this looks like early morning????

It was about 5:00 pm. I biked to Westfield, then past the club tower, and was going to take some of the AMI stadium, but I ran out of time, and had to go home.

It was about 5:00 pm. I biked to Westfield, then past the club tower, and was going to take some of the AMI stadium, but I ran out of time, and had to go home.

yeah oops should have looked at the shadows, but same diff.

this looks like early morning???? the cars arent usually parked there and it is actually packed during the day with people everywhere, which is good to see. remember its not finished yet, even this bit so you will see some contruction vehicles etc. Im not a huge fan of the designs myself but it ended up being much better than i expected. iv experienced it myself and can say its nothing like what people on here (who havnt been through it) are saying.

It's afternoon sensey. The sun is shinning from the west.

I'm looking forward to a good look around in 2 weeks time.

^^^^oops, I didn't read the other posts until after I posted mine sensible.

Great updated Matt. You keep cycling around and snapping.

Front page of the CHC city council web page.

Thanks Davee

Still seem to be alot of detractors of this upgrade. Although it doesnt exactly rock my boat I still like it considering what it used to look like.

And really despite how good looking this city is, its never looks or photographs well on those drab grey cold days.

The project I think is costing about $10m. This is a far cry from the $80m Westfield are spending in Riccarton so I guess we have to be realistic in that the council don't have $80m to splash out. For the price of $10m, I think it is a huge improvement and is money well spent.

Remember all it has to do is get people into the city - So far, it seems to be working.

I was in the Square last week (I don't go there all that often) and was amazed at how much more activity there was going on there. It was a lovely warm summery dat too which always helps. This is despite many peoples criticism of the square redevelopment.

Just a thought, I hope those trees the council is planting in the Mall don't get too large - Remember Chch has cool winds (other than the NW'ers) in general so any outside heating relies on direct sunlight. People won't want to sit outside in Cafe's creating that nice atmosphere if they are going to be shivering because there are trees blocking their sunlight.

Work on Project City Mall will take a break from next week so Christmas shoppers can enjoy the new-look mall. As with last year, current construction will be completed and the mall will be open for public use. The work team will be off-site by 30 November.

Work has progressed quickly since a second construction site was opened in June. West of Colombo Street, the mall project is complete from Ballantynes to Shades Arcade, and on the east side construction has reached from High Street almost as far as Colombo Street.

Project City Mall Director Sean Whitaker says work has been completed slightly ahead of schedule this year. The team is confident they will meet the final 30 November 2009 completion date despite the inclusion of additional work such as laying tram foundations and tracks.

“As well as working as efficiently as possible, we are working closely with retailers in City Mall to ensure they suffer little disruption while work is carried out,” he says.

“Feedback from them and the public has been positive about the new-look mall, which is really starting to take shape.”

Central City Business Association Manager Paul Lonsdale says City Mall is taking on a new lease of life as the renovations are completed.

“Already we can see a big contrast in the new sections of the mall, compared to the tired look of the old mall,” he says.

“It really is shaping up to be a world-class street and I have noticed more people coming in to town to shop, dine out and take-in the Central City atmosphere.”

Photos from Saturday.
Looks like nothing will happen now until after Christmas, as Davee said.
Comparison of new and old:
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/5192/img0060xk2.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2008-11-30
http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/5366/img0062sf0.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2008-11-30
The new 'hack' circle
http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/1812/img0066gf0.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2008-11-30

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g226/DavidEugene/295-1.jpg?t=1228176680

Had me a walk through the mall yesterday afternoon. Im getting more sold on the idea. Seeing the new next to the old helps put it into perspective. I reckon the upgrade is a great deal better.

I cant wait til they get to the Bridge of Remembrance- at ground level with its chipped tiles and 70s lighting its a sad and sombre worn out looking monument.

http://postart.co.nz/uploads/images/179%208%20Bridge%20of%20Remembrance.jpg

6 January 2009

Work is starting again in City Mall with the removal of the Cashel airbridge and continued construction.

Project City Mall took a five-week break over the busy Christmas holiday, to make way for shoppers in the Central City. The construction team is moving back on-site this week.

Work will begin on Cashel Street in the area outside Shades Arcade – picking up from where the team left off in November last year.

The airbridge over Cashel Street, between The Triangle Centre and the food court in The Crossing, will be removed soon. This follows last year’s removal of the High Street airbridge. The removal will take around three days, and it takes several weeks to rebuild the properties on either side.

Project City Mall Director Sean Whitaker says work progressed quickly and on schedule last year, and he expects the same results this year.

“We are working closely with retailers in City Mall to ensure as little disruption as possible while work is carried out,” he says.

“Feedback from them and the public has been positive about the new-look mall, which is really starting to take shape.”

The project will be completed by 30 November 2009.

A prominant feature of City Mall is now gone and Cashel St looks the better for it. Have pics on my phone but not sure how to upload them on to this website...

^^ http://www.photobucket.com , ya have to upload your images elsewhere then you add the supplied code under the image in your post. Sweet.

Yeah I saw them tearing down the airbridge yesterday and was surprised at just how much it OPENS up the area.

Can anyone tell me when this project is meant to be finishing? Ive read today that many shops are immediately adjacent to the work are finding things tough. There are a few empty shops towards the Strip end now which have new businesses looking to open but wont do so until the work is completed.

Also apparently the Strip is to rebranded. Apparently the name reeks of underage boozing so it is being renamed as the Terrace!

Yeah I saw them tearing down the airbridge yesterday and was surprised at just how much it OPENS up the area.

Can anyone tell me when this project is meant to be finishing? Ive read today that many shops are immediately adjacent to the work are finding things tough. There are a few empty shops towards the Strip end now which have new businesses looking to open but wont do so until the work is completed.

Also apparently the Strip is to rebranded. Apparently the name reeks of underage boozing so it is being renamed as the Terrace!

I believe the Cashel St section is due for completion in November. Not sure when they will be laying the tram tracks along oxford terrace.

It would be a shame if they rebranded the name 'The Strip'... It may have an infamous reputation but i'm sure it holds a special place in all our memories! 'The Terrace' sounds too Wellington. Save the 'The Strip'...Like it or hate it, its a Christchurch institution. However it does need a good tidy up.

On a side note.. Wagamama, the modern Japanese noodle house ironically from the UK, is now open for business. (Next door to Sticky Fingers)

On a side note.. Wagamama, the modern Japanese noodle house ironically from the UK, is now open for business. (Next door to Sticky Fingers)

Wagamama's is great. I use to eat at the original in Stretham Street - near the British Museum - you would have to que for about an hour to get in - and it was full on hectic. The problem is they sold out to some multi national who has just created a change under the old name. Now they are everywhere......they are not what they use to be and the food is nowhere near as good...........our one in Norwich is OK...........anyways enjoy. Better something there than nothing.

[QUOTE=canterburywatch;30665250]It would be a shame if they rebranded the name 'The Strip'... It may have an infamous reputation but i'm sure it holds a special place in all our memories! 'The Terrace' sounds too Wellington. Save the 'The Strip'...Like it or hate it, its a Christchurch institution. However it does need a good tidy up.[QUOTE]

Disagree. The name "The Strip" is a joke and has never been part of CHC's image apart from the horrid reputation it has developed in the last decade.

There is only one "Strip" and that is in Las Vegas.

The Terrace is very Wellington.

The "Strip" - always has been and always will be "Oxford Terrace". From the day that Capt Thomas and Edward Jollie laid out the city - Oxford Terrace and Cambridge Terrace with the Avon River flowing inbetween them have graced the cities landscape, and I'm sure they will for 100's of years to come.

The name "strip" will just be a hidious 90's blot on one of Christchurch's beauty spots.

http://www.ccc.govt.nz/CentralCity/Projects/CityMall/ProjectCityMallUpdate.pdf

Also apparently the Strip is to rebranded. Apparently the name reeks of underage boozing so it is being renamed as the Terrace!


The "Strip" - always has been and always will be "Oxford Terrace". From the day that Capt Thomas and Edward Jollie laid out the city - Oxford Terrace and Cambridge Terrace with the Avon River flowing inbetween them have graced the cities landscape, and I'm sure they will for 100's of years to come.

The name "strip" will just be a hidious 90's blot on one of Christchurch's beauty spots.

Of course it has and always will be oxford tce, but when darkness falls it becomes known as 'the strip', how could it possibly be re-branded? It's not the official name for the street, there aren't any signs that brand it as such, it's just what it's infamously known as. I can't imagine a bunch of drunken teens calling it 'the terrace'. Such a trashy place for a night out regardless.

^^ Oh yeah yeah yeah. It'll always be known as the Strip however the leaseholders/owners wish to get back the older moneyed clientele who clear off for the Lanes once night has hit.

Apparently renaming it as the Terrace is going to do this!

Haha, best of luck to them.

Once night falls - it becomes Bogansville Alley :nuts: Bit like being in outback Dubbo on pay day.

^^ Ah mate that made me laugh. Thing is but, at least the Canerbry girls scrub up a truck load better than Dubbos bushpigs ever would. Believe it or not too, the behaviour doesnt compare either.

I remember my first (and last) outback B & S ball in Central Qld. Guys with dead roos in the back of their utes, people rooting right under your feet, girls with more fingers than teeth. Guys tend to lose a few teeth during the night too- bash, whack, thud. But hey, you only live once.

Oh if only we could transfer that to the strip! nostalgia. :lol:

looks quite different without the bridge.
Photos from today:
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5199/img0019cy3.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2009-01-21
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/2662/img0021fd5.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2009-01-21

Any update pictures??

Did anyone see the article in the paper about the ugly behavour of youths who have now taken over the Stewart Plaza area of the new Mall development. Like before, if has become fithy and intimidating and is driving people away from the area. The new funiture is getting ruined and the pavement is a disgusting mess.

They inteview some of the "young people" there and they said it was there area and had no intention of moving.

The councils response is that they are going to play Barry Manilow's music there in an attempt to make the kids go away. They said they will bring their own music and drown it out. :ohno:

a much better response would be to have police officers make regular rounds of the area, and arrest kids if the behaviour warrents it. not let them off with a warning

after reading through the last few pages, i get the feeling this project will be pretty shit during the construction phase, but will probably clean up pretty nicely in the end. Davee made good points about lighting, people sitting outside cafes etc, and all that won't really come in to place till it's done

Did anyone see the article in the paper about the ugly behavour of youths who have now taken over the Stewart Plaza area of the new Mall development. Like before, if has become fithy and intimidating and is driving people away from the area. The new funiture is getting ruined and the pavement is a disgusting mess.

They inteview some of the "young people" there and they said it was there area and had no intention of moving.

The councils response is that they are going to play Barry Manilow's music there in an attempt to make the kids go away. They said they will bring their own music and drown it out. :ohno:

Is this article available for us to see on SSC? or can u post it Dave?

Barry Manilow? :hilarious Yep, that would do it! :lol:

Is this article available for us to see on SSC? or can u post it Dave?

I tried to find it on Stuff NZ last night Tony, but it's not there with a lot of the other articles I wanted to post up. I guess we will have to keep an eye on the CCC site to see what they report. I suppose they will post a planning application to deal with this area.

Barry Manilow? :hilarious Yep, that would do it! :lol:

The horrible thing is that I really, really like the song "Mandy" - I think it's a classic.

Perhaps we will end up having hundreds of 40+ year olds gang pressing all the grungy youth out the way :lol::lol::lol:

looks quite different without the bridge.
Photos from today:
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5199/img0019cy3.jpg
By mattbennett (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/mattbennett) at 2009-01-21


I thought that street scene looked familiar, I took a similar shot back in Feb 08, with that unattractive bridge still standing............


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/2008_020908newzealand0112.jpg

Skywalk, perhaps? :)

The horrible thing is that I really, really like the song "Mandy" - I think it's a classic.

Perhaps we will end up having hundreds of 40+ year olds gang pressing all the grungy youth out the way :lol::lol::lol:
:lol: :hilarious
Yeah, Mandy is ok, though.

Just had a walk through the mall. Bloody hell parts of it are a mess- its taking ages too.

At least the finished product does look good. I definately would like the council to increase their street sweepers budget. A nice new mall only looks good if the rubbish discarded by our more stupid citizens is collected straight away.

ffs there is still broken glass on the Bridge of Remembrance from the weekend!

20 April 2009

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker today unveiled the first in a series of bronze plaques in City Mall that will form a tribute to New Zealand soldiers.

The Path of Remembrance is a public artwork that pays tribute to the actions of New Zealanders in active service around the world through a series of bronze plaques. Eventually, more than 100 plaques will be scattered amongst the new paving stones in City Mall creating a path to the Bridge of Remembrance

Twelve designs have been created using a floral motif to depict different countries where New Zealanders have fought for their country.

Mayor Bob Parker says the pavers will be scattered throughout the new City Mall, allowing people to wander among the artworks and reflect on the deeds of our brave soldiers.

“It is fitting that we acknowledge the valiant efforts of those who fought for our country as we prepare for ANZAC Day. Christchurch people are proud of their veterans and this memorial is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge their brave deeds.”

Flower and plant designs have been chosen to represent Christchurch as the Garden City. In many cases, countries where New Zealanders have been involved in active service are represented by their national flower.

Project City Mall Director Sean Whitaker says the artwork is part of the new design for City Mall which, when completed, will create an attractive heart to the Central City.

“The revitalisation of the City Mall is more than just a face-lift. We are creating a new public space that residents and visitors can use and enjoy,” he says.

The plaques were designed by the City Mall design team and made by Brent Brownlee of Art Fétiche Studio Ltd.

http://www.ccc.govt.nz/CentralCity/Projects/CityMall/ProjectCityMallUpdate.pdf

They've started upgrading the area immediately adjacent to the Bridge of Remembrance.

And in other news its still taking so damned long!

Good feel on the completed High Street section today. Wandered through at about 11am today. Plenty of people about, quite buzzy, nice vibe, some even braving the outdoor tables at the cafes. Once we get through winter and theres some more greenery it should look pretty good.

My only real complaint is do we have any street sweepers here? Fair amount of litter about and that really detracts. I can understand it being messy around the diggers and trucks but in the finished sections? Adelaides Rundle Mall which was spotless in comparison.

Christchurch does need a tidy up, I think Mayor Bob should seriously look at that. It is not something that would be terribly expensive either. I feel that this is something that really detracts Christchurch's image. Is the tram extension completed yet?

Do you mean the tram extension through the Mall? If so than no no and definately no. Doing it section by section at literally a snails pace.

^^

Two of the City Mall

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8210/img3764f.jpg (http://img90.imageshack.us/i/img3764f.jpg/)

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/930/img3765v.jpg (http://img220.imageshack.us/i/img3765v.jpg/)

Just reposting these images here.

I think it is looking better. Kinda hard to do because these city blocks always look terrible in winter. But still frustrated at the slow progress this is taking. The intersections and Bridge are still uncompleted.

Always a minefield walking through the construction zones- narrow walkways through all the work. Feel like sheep being drenched.

that little square would look great with a cafe with outdoor chairs and tables, especially under that tree

This photo is probably a couple of months old now, a great picture showing the new rail line curving south into High Street.

http://file047a.bebo.com/16/original/2009/07/23/07/4033440723a11281793778o.jpg

This second photo taken looking in the other direction. Gives a good idea of the new paving, planter boxes and seating.

http://file047a.bebo.com/20/original/2009/07/23/07/4033440723a11281792860o.jpg

Photos taken by David Lorimer, posted on bettertransport.org.nz

Couple more photos of the finished portion of the Mall. Its really only the section by the Bridge to complete and then we are up and running. I've noticed theres a fair bit more street activity here now, either the better weather, finish of the work or people feeling richer now? Whatever the reason its good to see the cbd taking off again.

Much credit to eastadl who's taken plenty of good shots of the cbd on his recent visit.



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2596/4124511862_2bfd5c3434_b.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4123752291_1cf799c63c_b.jpg

^^^ That is all looking so much better. Get some more flowers in, the tram rattling past, more dinning and shops up and going - fantastic - ohhh and more appartments & housing!! :)

^^^ That is all looking so much better. Get some more flowers in, the tram rattling past, more dinning and shops up and going - fantastic - ohhh and more appartments & housing!! :)

Some more Flowers would be Lovely ......like those Cabbage Palms or what ever they are :lol::cheers:

:) so right sweetpea - just like your lovely bushey balls in your garden ;)

It will be interesting to see how much extra patronage the tramway brings to the innercity. From what I saw it will open up the city mall's shops, cafes, bars and restaurants in a big way. The Christchurch tram has already given large parts of the city particularly the cultural precinct a great deal of exposure both from patronage and the international exposure it has received from various tourist promotions. This will give Christchurch more of a metro feel. When will it be finished?

It will be interesting to see how much extra patronage the tramway brings to the innercity. From what I saw it will open up the city mall's shops, cafes, bars and restaurants in a big way. The Christchurch tram has already given large parts of the city particularly the cultural precinct a great deal of exposure both from patronage and the international exposure it has received from various tourist promotions. This will give Christchurch more of a metro feel. When will it be finished?

also, does anyone have a city centre map of the proposed tram extension. I couldnt work it out at all, other than it will go up Cashel St

^^ There is a map on the last page of this - http://resources.ccc.govt.nz/files/LTCCP2009-19Volume1-MajorInitiatives-docs.pdf

http://static.stuff.co.nz/1259663199/628/3116628.jpg

Sky Lens, by Neil Dawson, is a laser-cut, aluminium domed disc six metres in diameter and will be suspended above the Guthrey Plaza in the City Mall.

Dawson said it included linear drawings of paper darts forming a "matrix of interlocking shapes".

The work will be unveiled at 2pm on Friday and will be lit at night.

It is part of the City Mall revitalisation project and supported by Christchurch's Public Art Advisory Group, which jointly funded the $140,000 project.

Where is Guthery Plaza?

Stevenson, Eb Games, Whitcolls area

The revitalisation of City Mall is complete and the new-look pedestrian and shopping precinct was officially opened today by Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker.

Work started on Project City Mall in August 2007 with the aim of creating a more attractive, vibrant city centre for the public to enjoy. The two-year project to bring life back to City Mall has been a success, receiving positive feedback from retailers and the general public.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says the renovation of City Mall is a key component of the Council’s strategy to revitalise the Central City.

“The revitalisation of the Central City pedestrian mall was more than just a repaving project. It included an overhaul of the entire space, including the development of recreation and events areas, more plantings, new street furniture, improved lighting, public artworks and the removal of two air bridges.

“Already we have seen a difference in City Mall, with more people coming into town to enjoy the area and businesses feeling the benefits. Our plans to bring more activity to the Central City, boost business and entice more residents will continue this work.

“Project City Mall is a key milestone for our Central City Revitalisation Strategy, which aims to strengthen, grow and enhance the heart of our city to ensure the city as a whole continues to prosper. The strategy reflects this Council’s commitment to renew and revive the heart of our community.”

QUOTE=Davee;48651419]The revitalisation of City Mall is complete and the new-look pedestrian and shopping precinct was officially opened today by Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker.[/QUOTE]

Davee, City Mall does look finished , tracks down,public realm completed and plenty of seating and shrubs and flowers sprouting from numerous planters, but no trams!. Are they waiting for the Christmas Holiday to finish before
they put up the "wires"?...............

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/canal/Christchurch30dec09025.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/canal/Christchurch30dec09033.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/canal/Christchurch30dec09036.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/canal/Christchurch30dec09041.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/canal/Christchurch30dec09042.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/canal/Christchurch30dec09044.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/canal/Christchurch30dec09034.jpg

Not sure about the Trams yet Woody - they will be there soon.........I'll have a hunt and find out what the plan is.

Looks good with all the flowers and trees, once it establishes more it will be great. Now they need to start working on some of the buildings around the place - a little more height, get rid of some of the horrid 70's & 80's shit that is there..........

I think you can start to feel the change of the CBD from your photo's.....................thanks again Woody!

Found 2 more pics of the Mall area..............

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/canal/Christchurch30dec09043.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/canal/Christchurch30dec09024-1.jpg

The Council on 30 June 2009 decided to extend the city tramway, with the first stage to the corner of High and Tuam streets to be completed in time for the Rugby World Cup 2011.

The proposal to extend the city tram route was included in the draft Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) 2009-19, released for public consultation in March.

The Council approved the proposal to extend the route as far as the intersection of High Street and Tuam Street by 2011 to open in time for the Rugby World Cup in September/October of that year, and confirmed funding for the second stage of the extension along High Street and Ferry Road to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, the Music Centre of Christchurch and Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) to be completed by the summer of 2013. Funding of $11.5 million is set aside in the LTCCP to achieve this.

The route selected for the tram extension fits with the Council’s strategy to revitalise the Central City, linking destinations north and south of Cathedral Square. The tram is expected to attract more development in the up-and-coming area in the Central City South.

Ninety public submissions were received on the proposed tram extension, with 65 of those in support of the project. Further consultation will be carried out on specific parts of the route as design details are finalised. The project team will liaise with those affected by construction.

The first stage of the extended route turns south at Worcester Boulevard, heading down Oxford Terrace, through City Mall and south-east along High Street as far as Tuam Street, before turning north into Poplar Street. It then heads east along Lichfield Street and back up High Street, turning north into Colombo Street toward the Square to meet the existing line behind the Cathedral.

Stage two travels further south-east along High Street from Tuam Street, past the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, with details yet to be confirmed, then along St Asaph Street and Barbadoes Street as far as the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

Description of current stage:

Planning and design are underway for the area beyond City Mall, which is already under construction.

Public consulation is being carried out in mid to late 2009 on the proposed reversal of the one-way system on Oxford Terrace and limited one-way traffic in City Mall, including the tram.

Public consulation will follow on other specific areas ahead of construction.

A central Christchurch pedestrian area will remain nameless after a panel rejected public submissions.

The Christchurch City Council yesterday agreed to leave the Cashel St-High St corner, known colloquially as the Hack Circle, unnamed for now. The area has been upgraded as part of the central-city redevelopment.

The quest to find a name was handled by a council hearings panel that included two councillors, two community board members, a central-city business representative and a senior council staff member.

There were 22 name submissions, including The Quadrant, Radio Ron, Philosophers Circle and Pioneer Plaza.

However, in a report yesterday, the panel said none were suitable for such a high-profile corner. It might revisit the issue when the tram extension running through the intersection was completed.

RE: Radio Ron
Right up there with other colourful Christchurch characters like the Wizard. Im a bit young to really remember but does anyone remember the Birdman, Bible Lady or even the 'Dog man'???

From another thread:
Funny people: Radio Ron, the banjo guy, the occasionally-swearing (I think) kinda scary religious preacher, the bearded guy in Riccarton who wears a tartan or camo skirt (not a kilt, a skirt) with army boots, multiple unicyclists with a straight face that says "nothing strange about this at all".
I forgot one: Mr Tambourine Man.

Does he have a name?

What about that mad old geezer that rants I mean preaches in the square with the bible? Now he's what I call class, always gets a few rounds of applause that man.

Oh you gotta love him! They're in each city!

I mentioned him above.

I think I've heard him swear. Am I right?

Is the work completed now???? No contractors anywhere in the Mall yesterday but the weather was so atrocious they might have all had the day off.

What about the Bridge of Remembrance? I see the small plaza to the south has been upgraded however thought the Bridge itself was going to be overhauled. Anybody know?

One thing I noticed yesterday which is a massive improvement is the extra greenery. Previous the only plantlife in the mall was deciduous (???? how spelt) trees, so come winter it looked bleak and grey. Now there's some evergreen plants, once they've grown a little more the mall will always have some green.

One thing I noticed yesterday which is a massive improvement is the extra greenery. Previous the only plantlife in the mall was deciduous (???? how spelt) trees, so come winter it looked bleak and grey. Now there's some evergreen plants, once they've grown a little more the mall will always have some green.
I much perfer the leaveless trees in Winter! I don't find them depressing, 'cause they let in more light.

I also preferred the old circle seats around the trees.

(Not my pic.)
http://i49.************/5cbvhz.jpg

I like what they have done now as before those trees were getting a bit big for the mall.

Way, way to big! The mall now has a vista to the Bridge of Rememberance.

I like what they have done now as before those trees were getting a bit big for the mall.
Way, way to big! The mall now has a vista to the Bridge of Rememberance.
Those trees are still there! The only big ones that have gone are the one on the Colombo St end, and the one towards the centre that would interfere with the tram route.