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Projects

Auckland's CBD Into the Future

Introduction | Street and open space upgrades | The CBD Board | Research | Quarter plans | Funding | The guiding documents | Residents advisory group | Action plan


Street and open space upgrades

Underway:

  

Planned:

  • Fort Street area upgrade (including lower Shortland Street, Jean Batten Place, Fort Street, Fort Lane and Gore and Commerce Street (between Customs and Fort Street)  
  • Lorne Street, Stage 2 (outside the Library and including Rutland Street)

Completed:

   

Introduction

The CBD streets and open spaces programme is an ambitious $157. 8 million, 10-year programme to transform our streets and open spaces to those of a world-class city. This represents a significant level of investment in the CBD's public open spaces.

The council views the streets projects as transformational for the CBD and critical to the city's future urban identity, quality, character, and economic health.

CBD streets and open spaces upgrade objectives include:

  • providing a network of distinctive places people want to visit and linger in
  • creating places that support a concentration of retail and cultural activities
  • transforming the CBD into a sought after destination to live, work and play
  • revitalising the CBD so it is a catalyst for investment in the CBD.

Started in 2004, the programme has seen the successful upgrade of nine CBD streets and spaces, including, Queen Street, Lorne Street, Vulcan Lane, Lower Swanson Street (stage 1), Quay Street, Lower Khartoum Place, Karangahape Road and Beach Road (stage 1).

The programme is largely funded by the CBD Targeted Rate which is a special rate paid by CBD residents and businesses and for the upgrade of central city streets and open spaces.


Shared space

A number of the streets earmarked for upgrade have been identified as being suitable for shared space.

Shared space is an urban design concept that aims to combine rather than separate the functions of a street.

Through specific design, management and maintenance, streets that incorporate the shared space concept seek to remarkably improve the environment for people, without needing to ban traffic. See shared space for more information.


Pedestrian Malls

Pedestrian malls are closed off to all vehicles except emergency vehicles and bicycles. A pedestrian mall generally features a single paved surface and no kerbing.

Most of the current pedestrian malls in the CBD were once conventional streets which have subsequently been redesignated and upgraded as pedestrian malls.  See Pedestrian Malls for more information.


2008 to 2014 programme next steps  

Core CBD streets around Queen Street that attract many pedestrians, such as Elliott and Fort streets are the focus of the next stage of the programme. Streets that link with Queen Street and complement those already upgraded, such as Lorne and High streets are another priority.

The next phase will continue to deliver distinctive, urban streets.  The upgrades will include features, such as wider pavements, more trees, quality street furniture and stone paving, and will be designed to give the CBD a more pedestrian-friendly feel.


The architects and designers

The architects and landscape designers involved with the streetscape projects are some of New Zealand's finest and include:

  • Brewer Davidson
  • Leo Jew
  • Architectus
  • Boffa Miskell
  • LA4.
Vulcan Lane. Quay Street.
Vulcan Lane Quay Street
View towards downtown Queen Street from Upper Queen Street.
View towards downtown Queen Street from Upper Queen Street.

 

 

 

 

 

Updated July 2009

 

Copyright © 2009 Auckland City Council. All rights reserved.