Lets see what the local, national and international community can come up with

Yesterday I had blogged on the City Centre Integration Group update on where things were with Quay Street.

From my From the Auckland Development Committee post:

…

City Centre Integration Update – Monthly update

• Downtown Precinct Framework: subset of opportunities that builds on the City Centre Master Plan and Integrated Transport Program (being some mentioned)
• One of five frameworks under-way
• Draft Downtown Precinct Framework to seek consideration in August Auckland Development Committee
• Provides finer detail and strategies on how the downtown precinct interconnects with other City Centre projects
• Sea Wall needing upgrading due seismic activity with upgrade under way.
  • Full upgrade to start next year but options to be considered on work scheme required
  • Sea Wall upgrade will take into sea level rise and climatic change situations
• Quay Street identified by the City Centre Master Plan as an important project for the City that Council wants to get under way. An Expression of Interest is out to the market (see Downtown story update). Multi-agency role and review of the contenders for the Quay Street project
• Quay Street:  undergrounding the street for intra-regional traffic movement while open space above? Possibility especially with Sea Wall major upgrade. This was mentioned by Councillor Mike Lee especially as Quay Street is used as a freight thoroughfare for Port of Auckland’s North Auckland and Northland freight traffic
• Quay Street: Transport solutions for the east-west arterial. Councillor Brewer seeking reassurance on traffic flows for the area.
• Councillor Fletcher: Looking at public space provisions. The want to humanise Quay Street and the concepts will look at the pro-humanisation approach. That is the socialisation and interaction in the area.The agencies and Councillors have been positive and willing with the Downtown Precinct and Quay Street upgrades.
• Public consultation on Quay Street: unknown until Expression of Interest is complete
• Aotea Station in regards to North Shore Line: No definite proposals or thinking on-line designation

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First mention of the Expression of Interest for Quay Street was made a fortnight ago at a briefing by the Deputy Mayor, and Urban Design Champion Ludo Campbell-Reid which I picked up here: A Story of Downtown Auckland [Updated]

Late yesterday the Council put out a presser signally that they are now looking at Expressions of Interest for Quay Street.

From Auckland Council:

Auckland Council seeks designers for redevelopment of Quay Street

Auckland Council is seeking proposals from designers to assist with the future redevelopment of Quay Street. 

Quay Street has been earmarked for change under the City Centre Master Plan – a blueprint for the future use of the central city. 

The council is issuing a request for expressions of interest from design consultants. 

Concept designs for development of Quay Street will be considered by the Auckland Development Committee, and Aucklanders will have an opportunity to have their say before designs are finalised. 

“We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a great waterfront and city centre, and we need the best designers working with us as we develop our proposals to transform this area,” Deputy Mayor and Auckland Development Committee Chair Penny Hulse said. 

City Centre integration general manager Rick Walden, said the project was at a very early stage. “As options are developed we will be seeking input from the wider community.” 

The council aims to complete the appointment of a design team in November. 

Background 

• A draft ‘Site and Context Analysis’ report was prepared in September 2012 with the purpose of developing a baseline understanding of Quay Street to inform the design process
• A ‘Design Framework’ was then completed for the Quay Street Project in June 2013
• This work included a draft concept design for Quay Street’s streetscape upgrade and aspirational conceptual proposals for the Ferry Basin, Admiralty Basin and Ferry Building promenade water’s edge areas
• The project has since progressed through a period of co-ordination and integration with other related Downtown projects and developments
• The request for expressions of interest document will be available on Tenderlink www.lgtenders.co.nz and GETS http://www.gets.govt.nz/

—ends—

Lets see what the design community comes up with before the short list goes out for public submissions