Could you be it?

It is 2015 and Heart of the City are looking for a fresh start after the Swney saga last year (http://hotcity.co.nz/news/Important-Announcement-from-Heart-of-the-City/?pi_newsitemid=543)

And with the Downtown Framework from Auckland Council pretty much under way the City Centre is going to need a switched on advocate.

So if you are looking for a challenge and something new have a read of below from Heart of the City:

January 16th, 2015

We’re looking for a new CEO

• Test your leadership, advocacy, marketing, political savvy and communication skills

• Make a visionary impact on the future business development in Auckland’s CBD

• Ensure Auckland’s CBD continues as a vibrant and prosperous area

Heart of the City has achieved phenomenal success in developing a city centre that Aucklanders are proud of; that is a thriving place to do business and is an accessible, vibrant, great place to be. From creating and supporting events that promote Auckland City as a destination to influencing decisions that ensure Auckland as a world-class destination to live, work and visit, you will be part of a talented team and work with a supportive Board who are keen to see a continuation of the organisation’s growth and impressive impact.

To be successful with this exciting appointment you will be a key influencer who tenaciously challenges and advocates for members, with a clear awareness of the business drivers that create economic success. Executing on your passion for Auckland, this role will test your stakeholder management, marketing, political savvy and communication skills along with your ability to inspire and motivate others to deliver a vision.

To be successful with this opportunity, your achievements will demonstrate the following:

• A reputation as a key influencer with significant achievements in championing a cause;

• Ability to partner and create strategic alliances;

• Previous advocacy experience or experience in political environments;

• Proven ability leveraging a variety of stakeholders in a complex environment;

• An understanding of membership organisations; and

• A track record in moving a vision into action.

In addition to the experience outlined in the career trajectory, the ideal candidate will bring:

• A desire to make a difference and a passion for Auckland CBD;

• Credibility in reputation; and

• Resilience, determination and energy.

……

Source and link for those interested is here: http://hotcity.co.nz/news/Were-looking-for-a-new-CEO/?i=557

Looking at it the new CEO’s role is going to have their work cut out as the City Centre continues to evolve and face some serious challenges over the next ten years. Such as:

• City Rail Link enabling works starting next year with the main project on course for a 2018 start date
• The Precinct Properties development in downtown opposite Britomart
• Continued City Centre renewal with more streets becoming shared spaces in an attempt to humanise the City Centre
• The High Street question on when to flip that into shared space with opposition coming from a key land holder in the area
• Budget Cuts in the Long Term Plan by Auckland Council on all things CAPEX (investment) and OPEX (operations and maintenance). This will present an interesting question on how the City Centre’s Targeted Rate of the current $20m is used within the City Centre. Currently it is used primarily for CAPEX purposes such as contributions to shared street spaces. However, LTP documents suggest (if approved in June by Council) that the City Centre targeted rate is being switched to a primary OPEX use. This suggests either cuts to further City Centre investment or that investment being drawn more on general rates despite Budget pressures
• That leads to the final situation that is going to present a growing challenge and that is the City Centre vs everyone else in Auckland (as I will summarise below)

HotC represents and have been very good advocates for the City Centre. However, the lingering perception (not helped by Council one bit) is that with all the heavy investment into Auckland’s City Centre, the rest of Auckland is missing out on such investment as well. Town and Metropolitan Centres all screaming for upgrades (apart from New Lynn and Westgate which is another debate in itself) and yet we are facing budget cuts in the middle of a population boom.

So whoever the new HotC CEO is I would suggest not only being an advocate for the City Centre as primarily described but maybe using some of that clout to Council to buddy up with the other centres in Auckland and get their renewals under-way.

I say this because a strong City Centre is dead useless if the rest of Auckland is left floundering and gasping for resources to basically survive. Of course the vice versa is true as well but outside the City Centre is currently not having millions poured into it via investment, the City Centre is. So that perception of City Centre vs everyone else lingers and I would further suggest to the new HotC CEO if you do not reach out to the rest of Auckland as well as sell the benefits in the City Centre’s investments then 2016 might be interesting if Council make up changes and decides to reverse course. And that would be a bit of a shame now wouldn’t it.

Manukau City Centre update

Seeming I am talking City Centre, with Council back at full power tomorrow I resume advocacy work on the pocket park in our other City Centre in Auckland – Manukau City Centre.

The last update before Christmas was here: https://voakl.net/2014/12/17/further-update-on-manukau-pocket-park/

In a readjustment of strategy in getting investment thus renewal into Manukau City Centre (and factoring incoming budget cuts) I am looking a quick wins like pocket parks until the Unitary Plan goes live 2016 (and hopefully a change in Council as well) before taking on some of the meatier tasks at hand.

Anyhow next update should be on Friday around the pocket park.