New Year brings exciting new developments for New Lynn
10 January 2011
New Year brings exciting new
developments for New Lynn
Work begins on two further
regeneration projects in New Lynn in
mid-January.
Auckland Transport is starting work on
transforming the tired and under-utilised back street of
McCrae Way into a pedestrian-friendly shared space, while
work begins on a large, architecturally-designed, commercial
development on Totara Avenue, outside the New Lynn transport
interchange.
The latter is a joint venture between
Auckland Council and Infratil Infrastructure Property Ltd
that will deliver a 299-space public car parking building
and 7000 square metres of commercial and retail space,
including a new medical centre. The multi-million dollar
building contract has been awarded to Hawkins Construction.
The McCrae Way redevelopment will be delivered by contractor
Dempsey Wood.
Both projects will be completed by the
end of 2012.
The area, behind the New Lynn War
Memorial Library and opposite the new rail and bus
interchange, is a key part of New Lynn’s on-going urban
regeneration. In the New Lynn Urban Plan, this area falls
within the Merchant Quarter precinct, which looks to provide
a vibrant and walkable mixed-use environment that attracts
both visitors and business investment.
McCrae Way,
running through the heart of the Merchant Quarter, will
become an important shared space street, providing new
connections to Great North Road and Totara Avenue and access
to the new commercial development and parking building.
The slow-speed, pedestrian friendly zone will have
design elements similar to the shared space opened in Totara
Avenue West in September and will include a new urban
Merchant Square.
The newly created space will not only
provide new business opportunities in the heart of New Lynn
but will provide a safe and attractive environment for New
Lynn residents, visitors and workers. It will also be
sympathetic to existing heritage
buildings.
Eventually, McCrae Way will also join
Totara Avenue West via a planned McCorquindale Lane (named
after former New Lynn Mayor and local business owner, the
late Jack McCorquindale), which will be built on land at 24
Totara Avenue.
The redevelopment will result in the
loss of some parking spaces, but these will be more than
made up for by the construction of a new public parking
building at 30 Totara Avenue.
The existing taxi rank
in McCrae Way is to be relocated to new bays on Memorial
Drive, closer to the rail station. Access for Police and
existing businesses off McCrae Way will be maintained.
The new developments build on a number of
transformational projects delivered in central New Lynn
since September 2010, including the award-winning transport
interchange, the newly opened Clark Street extension and
Totara Avenue shared space and the redeveloped Todd Triangle
and Gardner Reserve.
Auckland Transport is also
seeking feedback on its plans to upgrade New Lynn’s Great
North Road (between Clark Street and Memorial Drive) and
Delta Avenue to provide a more pedestrian-friendly town
centre environment. The plan allows for wider footpaths, new
seating and additional plantings to create a more pleasant
environment for walking, shopping and socialising. Work is
expected to take place between April and August
2012.
These projects are part of a wider vision to
transform New Lynn into a vibrant regional town
centre.
Whau Local Board Chairman Derek Battersby says
New Lynn’s redevelopment is “a triumph” for the local
community.
“The difference these projects are making
to New Lynn is remarkable and we are well on our way to
being able to cater for the significant population growth
projected for this area in the next 50 years,” he
says.
“We can look forward to living in a modern,
vibrant and pedestrian-friendly town centre with strong and
consistent design, a mix of living, working and civic spaces
and a growing economy.”
More information and images
on the McCrae Way and Great North Road development plans can
be found on Auckland Transport’s website
www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz, under Current
Projects.