Rejuvenated Area Of High Street

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28888, 7 May 1959, Page 23

Rejuvenated Area Of High Street

Most of the visitors who go to the New Zealand Industries Fair in the next fortnight will do so via lower High street. As they go to see the latest in New Zealand manufactured goods and to enjoy themselves with the varied entertainment offered, they will pass through a rejuvenated shopping district. For a number of years lower High street was regarded as a not very good area for businesses. Now, the shops, are freshly painted, brightly lit and attracting business.

Names of some of the retail businesses down the street were houshold names several generations ago; other shops there have been in business for many years without changing their merchandise or their names and they show that the street has always had its steady stream of shoppers.

One big retail business moved to lower High street last year and expanded its premises. It has not regretted the move, which has brought it new and more customers. That has answered the critics who said the area was not progressing.

High street serves the important suburbs of Woolston and Heathcote, the hillside residential areas and the seaside resorts of Sumner and Redcliffs.

When the new railway station is completed, Madras street and High street will become the highway to the central area; and the completion of the Christchurch-Lyttelton road tunnel will mean that road traffic from the port will use High street if it is making for die heart of the city. High street becomes one ofdhe main arterial “spoke” roads leading out from the hub.

A big advantage to downtown shoppers in lower High street is that they find parking space more easily than in many other parts of the city.

The advertisers on these pages show the wide range of goods and services available to shoppers in the area.