261 stores under the banner City Mall

Press, 9 August 1982, Page 22

261 stores under the banner City Mall

The opening of the $640,000 City Mall on Saturday represented a massive face-lift for the commercial heart of the city, and, with it, a change of character. With 261 stores under the banner of City Mall, the shopping centre is huge even by world standards. The redevelopment of existing buildings instead of demolishing commercial buildings has been adopted in creating the mall. It is-a policy which is now more

predominant because people are far more aware that buildings are a part of the environment. In this aspect the mall has retained its historical link with the city but the character has changed. A chain reaction began with the physical start to development of the Mall. It has boosted pride in the retailers and the facades of shops have been modernised in keeping with the clean, modern image.

Designed for easy, relaxed shopping for pedestrians, initially, some problems were experienced with the vehicle restrictions but these have been solved.

To soften the over-all effect of the Mall, the Christchurch City Council is relying on planting. Magnolia, elm, and Canadian maple, and a flowering honey locust are some of the variety of trees which have been planted. The trees and shrubs are watered by an underground system of irrigation. It works on a time-control basis and fertiliser can also be injected through the system.

The trees have been planted in raised brick rings with timber seating around some of the larger rings.Originally, it was planned to visually tie-up the mall and Cathedral Square by paving the pedestrian accessways but because of a lack of funds this has been deferred and will form part of the Stage II development. Several key developments were timed to. coincide with the construction of the Mall. The most important is that of the T and G Mutual complex which incorporates first-floor bridge links across both High and Cashel Streets.

The link — from the Cashel Street parking building to the National Mutual Arcade, across. High Street to the T and G complex, across Cashel Street to D.1.C.-Beaths

and Cashfields — is intended to encourage retailing at first-floor level.

The first stage of this complex now under way will cost about $4.6M and eventually will contain 33 shops.

The reduction of the Hereford and Colombo Street intersection to a four-way crossing with a pedestrian Barnes Dance enhances the pedestrian link between the Mall and the Square. In addition, the area surrounding the Stewart Fountain expands into a substantial square, as will the area outside the new Canterbury Savings Bank and Hallensteiris. The new 12-storey Canterbury Savings Bank is expected to be completed in 1983 and will cost $6.4M. Origins The original impetus to create the mall came from the business community. Proposals for the mall and other pedestrian features arose from the redevelopment study for Cathedral Square. The council became fully committed to the mail project in 1968. It was realised then that because of its comparatively compact and radial form, Christchurch had a strong central area. But there was concern that if undue decentralisation of commercial space occurred, the city centre would lose its attractiveness as the cultural and commercial hub of the city.