ARC's waterfront development objectives changed

This is a big one for me. I've been working on this issue for three years. You might think the result doesn't go far enough - but believe me - it will make a difference.

Before I go on more, this blog is about Wynyard Quarter / Western Reclamation / Tank Farm redevelopment. A central chunk of Auckland's waterfront. My issue with what has been proposed is that ARH (Auckland Regional Holdings) have been instructed by ARC to "...optimise revenue..." from the development. Those directions also go on about the development being "...world class..." without saying anything about the nature or purpose of any development.

Last week, ARC's Finance Ctte voted this way:

That the Chairman of the Finance Committee writes to Auckland Regional Holdings:

(i) requesting Auckland Regional Holdings to address any inconsistencies
in the draft 2009-19 Long Term Funding Plan, and to confirm that it will
provide the distributions specified in the Auckland Regional Council’s
2009-19 Long Term Council Community Plan.
(ii) requesting Auckland Regional Holdings to keep the Auckland Regional
Council fully informed of its leasing strategy for the Wynyard quarter,
and related financial implications;
(iii) advising that the previous objective in respect of the waterfront
investment property “to enable the creation of a world-class, mixed-use,
urban waterfront redevelopment incorporating high-quality and
accessible public spaces and high-quality private works” is amended to
“to enable the creation of a world-class, mixed-use, urban waterfront
redevelopment that becomes a visitor destination by delivering high quality
and accessible public spaces and attractions alongside high quality
private works”.

I moved the change that is in (iii) above. You might have to read it a couple of times to spot the difference. But this change should make a significant difference. It provides direction to ARH and Sea+City about the purpose of the development, and what needs to be provided to meet that purpose.

Greywacke pebbles on the beach south of Timaru. I like beaches and flotsam and jetsam...

Singapore Waterfront Urban Design 1

A few weeks ago I was fortunate to be invited to make a couple of presentations to the Annual Marcus Evans City Development Conference. It gave me an opportunity to look around that modern Asian city - especially the waterfront.




This montage is from an outside walkway outside a Mall by the waterfront. I'm not especially keen on malls, but the way the design resolutely provided quality public space - while allowing shops of all sorts to operate within the building - was very interesting. These next three pictures give a flavour of the actual waterfront space and design adjacent to the mall building, and also looking back into the shopping area.












This next montage (below) shows another example of this spatial approach to development adjacent to the waterfront. The circular enclosed space is public space. It is very sheltered from prevailing winds, while providing a sort of market square focus for the retail and cafe activities at ground level. There is considerable public space provision on top of this building, and this space is well planted with small trees, gardens and shrubs. The classic green roof - but actually a park, very useable and with great amenity.



Stepping through the rooftop garden, you can then view the adjacent waterfront spaces and views. The next montage (below) is from the roof. You can see the carefully designed waterfront spaces and planting. The sail shaded area is a a public performance area - bands and informal concerts occur there.



This final montage (below) actually contains 3 shots of the same slice of waterfront space between the built edge, and the water edge. What the photos try to show (!?) is the fact that there is a public pavement directly adjacent to to the buildings (some of which are activated), then there is a planted strip that contains outdoor restaurant seating and cafes (you can make out the StarBucks umbrellas here), and then there is another wide public pavement.



These designs show the kind of approaches that can be adopted to waterfront edges which genuinely respect public space, and provide for successful private business, without getting them all mixed up and in conflict.