Downtown Framework

Written by Ben Ross - Talking Auckland

Guiding Developments in Downtown Auckland

 

Downtown Carpark transformed post CCMP aerial shot
Downtown Carpark transformed post CCMP aerial shot

 

On Thursday the Auckland Development Committee will meet. One of the agenda items (I have already covered the Downtown Public Space Options) is looking at a “framework” that would guide Downtown Auckland’s development over the next so many years. From the Auckland Development Committee agenda:

Downtown Framework

Downtown Framework

Purpose

  1. To present the Downtown Framework document to the Auckland Development Committee for endorsement.

Executive summary

  1. The Downtown Framework is an informing document to guide discussions and decision-making on current and emerging matters in the development of Downtown and the harbour edge as a key component in delivering The Auckland Plan’s vision to create the world’s most liveable city.
  2. This Downtown Framework will be the first of several such documents covering specific parts of the city centre. It brings together the visions and programmes from across all of Auckland Council and the Council Controlled Organisations
  3. The Framework document has been co-ordinated by the City Centre Integration team. It is a non-statutory, living document that will continue to evolve over time responding to new opportunities to fulfil the potential of Downtown.
Recommendation/sThat the Auckland Development Committee:

  1. a)      endorse the Downtown Framework document.

 

Comments

  1. This Downtown Framework will be the first of several documents covering specific parts of the city centre. It brings together the visions and programmes from across all of Auckland Council and the Council-controlled Organisations.
  2. The Auckland Plan’s vision to create the world’s most liveable city is supported by the strategies and place-based plans that set out how to deliver it, as well as the Unitary Plan, which sets out the planning rules that are needed to shape what gets built and where.
  3. The framework has been guided by the City Centre Masterplan, Waterfront Plan, Regional Land Transport Plan, Economic Development Strategy and Auckland Unitary Plan. There are also specific supporting studies, such as the City East West Transport Study (CEWT Study).
  4. The Framework outlines the different projects proposed for the downtown area. Many of these complex and are at different stages of development. It does not seek to answer all the challenges that lie ahead, instead it aims to guide discussions and decision making on those issues. It does this by:
  5. Setting out the principles and organising ideas to help guide project delivery and future investment and development decisions.
  6. Combining the latest information, and demonstrating the best available understanding of how the projects will work together to deliver a world class downtown, and highlights key challenges and inter-dependencies to realising the vision.
  7. Project information will continue to evolve over time as option testing is undertaken, further investigations progressed and new projects are considered. This will create new challenges and opportunities to debate.

…………

 

There is a show and tell today for the media so that we could get a close look at the Framework. Sadly I wont be (or was not) able to make it owing to family commitments prior.

The Auckland Development Committee however, on Thursday shall no doubt trash the Framework out before it is endorsed – or will it?