Eden Terrace’s $380,000 upgrade gets the go-ahead
Eden Terrace business owners have agreed to stump up $380,000 for a plan to upgrade their neighbourhood. The Eden Terrace Business Association held a vote last month asking companies if they were prepared to pay a fee to establish the area as a Business Improvement District (BID), a partnership between the Waitemata Local Board and businesses to make the area more attractive. Sixty per cent voted yes, and at a meeting held this week the board formally accepted the proposal. The association has scheduled a general meeting on May 30, where it will discuss with businesses the spending of the $380,000 budget, and the appointment of a BID manager and executive committee to liaise with the council on businesses’ behalf.
Ron Harcus, association chairman and owner of Eden Terrace bookstore Ariel Books, says two primary issues the BID hopes to resolve are reinstating bus services that were removed from the area and making more short-term parking available. He adds that a lot of the improvements will be more gradual, such as creating a “brand” for the neighbourhood. “You’re talking three- to five-year things, rather than instant fixes. Long-term benefits would hopefully see an improvement in the general look of the area,” says Harcus. Rob Thomas, the Waitemata Local Board representative on the business association, says these enhancements are in traders’ best interest.
“That money that will be allocated with the BID will be able to be invested directly back into the area. “So it’s a unique opportunity for those businesses really to set the direction for the future of that community,” he says. Harcus says the BID should be beneficial to everyone. “At the end of the day what we’re hoping to do is improve the area all-round, not just for the businesses, but [also] for people who just live in the area.” The association is asking for nominations for the executive committee, which close on May 23.
Eden Terrace business owners have agreed to stump up $380,000 for a plan to upgrade their neighbourhood. The Eden Terrace Business Association held a vote last month asking companies if they were prepared to pay a fee to establish the area as a Business Improvement District (BID), a partnership between the Waitemata Local Board and businesses to make the area more attractive. Sixty per cent voted yes, and at a meeting held this week the board formally accepted the proposal. The association has scheduled a general meeting on May 30, where it will discuss with businesses the spending of the $380,000 budget, and the appointment of a BID manager and executive committee to liaise with the council on businesses’ behalf.
Ron Harcus, association chairman and owner of Eden Terrace bookstore Ariel Books, says two primary issues the BID hopes to resolve are reinstating bus services that were removed from the area and making more short-term parking available. He adds that a lot of the improvements will be more gradual, such as creating a “brand” for the neighbourhood. “You’re talking three- to five-year things, rather than instant fixes. Long-term benefits would hopefully see an improvement in the general look of the area,” says Harcus. Rob Thomas, the Waitemata Local Board representative on the business association, says these enhancements are in traders’ best interest.
“That money that will be allocated with the BID will be able to be invested directly back into the area. “So it’s a unique opportunity for those businesses really to set the direction for the future of that community,” he says. Harcus says the BID should be beneficial to everyone. “At the end of the day what we’re hoping to do is improve the area all-round, not just for the businesses, but [also] for people who just live in the area.” The association is asking for nominations for the executive committee, which close on May 23.