Transforming the Fort Street area

Auckland City Council is planning to transform the Fort Street area into a lively, people focused destination with world-class shared spaces, interesting design features, new artworks, seating, vegetation, lighting and high quality stone paving.

People will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed draft design during a consultation period from 2 to 22 September.

The Fort Street area is one of Auckland’s business hubs and is home to an increasing mix of retail, dining and commercial businesses. The area marks part of the city’s original foreshore and is a key pedestrian link between the waterfront, Britomart and downtown area.

The area’s significant location and its potential for transformation makes it a priority for one of Auckland City Council’s CBD streetscape upgrades. The area proposed for upgrade encompasses six key streets – Fort Street, Fort Lane, Jean Batten Place, Gore and Commerce streets (between Fort and Customs streets) and Shortland Street (between Queen Street and Jean Batten Place).

“The upgrade of the Fort Street area is part of the continued transformation and success of Auckland’s CBD. The area has so much potential and could be a real destination, a place where people want to spend time,” says Cr Greg Moyle, chairperson of the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee.

The concept of shared space is proposed for the western and eastern ends of Fort Street, along with Jean Batten Place and Fort Lane. Shared spaces seek to combine rather than separate the functions of a street so that there is more space for pedestrians, creating an attractive space for people to spend time without the need to ban vehicles Auckland City Council’s design for shared space will pave across the width of the street, removing kerbing and private vehicle parking and limiting loading times. To find out more about shared space and view our video clip showing how it will look and feel in Auckland, visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/cbd

Specific design features such artworks, shoreline location markers, heritage mats and vegetation will be used to reflect the area’s rich geographic and cultural history as the site of the original foreshore and the hub of trade and transport for early settlers. The introduction of new lighting, including a feature light work in Fort Lane will also make the area more attractive and safer for night-time users.

The overall design for the upgrade will make it easier for pedestrians to get into and around the Fort Street area. It will build on the pedestrian links from High Street and Britomart, and from the city to Vector Arena. These changes will also incorporate features to make getting around easier and safer for people with disabilities.

“The Fort Street area upgrade will change the way we use the streets and provide opportunities and space for a variety of other street activities, such as events. The proposed changes will also be positive for businesses in the area by attracting more people and opening up the space for things such as outdoor dining,” says Mr Moyle.

Traffic access, including public transport, will be retained and parking and loading will be rearranged to make the area more pedestrian friendly. The number of private vehicle parking spaces in the Fort Street area upgrade will be reduced under the proposed design to accommodate the introduction of shared space. Pay and display parking will be retained on Gore and Commerce streets. Detailed plans illustrating parking, bus stops and loading areas are available at www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/cbd

The Fort St area transformation is part of Auckland City Council’s 10-year CBD streetscape and open spaces upgrade programme and is funded by the CBD targeted rate.

Ends

Notes to editor:

High res images are available on request.

To find out more about the project and to provide feedback
· visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/cbd
1 text FORT and your email address to 2020 (texts cost 20 cents)
2 contact the call centre on 379 2020 to request a brochure
3 visit our information kiosk on Fort Street on:
· Thursday, 3 September 2009, 11-2pm

1 Friday, 4 September 2009, 4-6pm
2 Saturday, 5 September 2009, 11-2pm
3 Thursday, 10 September 2009, 11-2pm
4 Friday, 11 September 2009, 4-6pm

Auckland City Council is investing a total of $965 million to transform and revitalise Auckland's CBD and the waterfront as part of a 10-year action plan that began in 2004

Part of this includes a streetscape and open space upgrade budget of $162.5 million, of which $81.5 million is from the CBD targeted rate.

The estimated budget for the Fort Street area upgrade project is $23 million and includes Fort Street, Jean Batten Place, Lower Shortland Street, Fort Lane, Commerce and Gore streets.

Streetscapes and open places upgrade programme
In 2004, a 10 year programme to transform the CBD’s streets and open spaces into a high quality urban environment was developed by the council. Since then Queen Street, Quay Street, Lorne Street, Karangahape Road, Swanson Street, Vulcan Lane and Lower Khartoum Place have been successfully upgraded. St Patrick’s Square and Aotea Square are currently under construction. The Elliott and Darby streets draft design went out for consultation in July and a Special Consultation Procedure on turning Darby Street into a pedestrian mall is running until 29 September. For more information on all these projects and to find out about upcoming upgrade projects visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/cbd

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