Wellington laneway upgrade to be put on ice after business backlash
Before and after: Holland St as it is now, on the left, and how it is envisaged to look after the proposed makeover.
A plan to transform Wellington's Holland St into the capital's latest cosmopolitan laneway has hit a wall, with upgrade work likely to be put on hold indefinitely.
Wellington City Council will vote on Thursday to defer a number of aesthetic design changes to the street, including improved lighting and planter boxes, after a flood of complaints from nearby businesses and residents.
The street was to be the first stage of a wider laneway upgrade project that focused on strengthening linkages between Tory St, Taranaki St and Courtenay Place.
An artist impression of the laneway revamp proposed for Holland St in the central city.
Nine of the 16 submissions received during the consultation period were vehemently against the proposed changes, primarily in regards to parking.
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"This plan will ruin the street, not improve it. If it's not broke, don't fix it," submitter Jim Marsden said.
An artist impression of how Holland St would look from Tory St at night.
Joseph Beeso, the property manager of nearby big-box retailer Bunnings, was another of those strongly opposed to the proposal based on pedestrian safety concerns.
The store on Tory St had plans for a small nursery and timber yard at their existing premises, which he believed would be affected by the project.
In his submission, he said his concerns had not been addressed despite comprehensive consultation.
"It is disappointing that in the new plan provided we see no improvement or any apparent consideration of feedback [already received]."
While the majority of the originally planned changes to the street are now off the table, it looks likely that the council will vote in favour of the amended plan, which only concerns parking.
The changes will see two loading zones formally established as well as two extra metered carparks.
Subject to the outcome of the city strategy committee meeting, council officers would arrange for the resolved layout of loading bays, car parks and line marking to be implemented.
An updated approach to the laneway revamp would be made be at an "appropriate" time in the future, a council report said.
- Stuff
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