FORESHORE LAND

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 149, 12 March 1923, Page 9

FORESHORE LAND

HARBOUR BOARD’S LAY-OUT AT TE ARO SHARP CRITICISM “NO PROVISION FOR THROUGH STREETS” A well-known citizen, who does not wish his identity disclosed, draws attention to the manner in which the Harbour Board has laid out the reclaimed land between the old Te Aro reclamation and tha sea, and the way in which buildings are being allowed to be erected. , ‘‘With all this talk of town-plan-ning,” he said, “ono would have thought that the board would have exercised some slight intelligence in reading this land —land, which twenty years hence will be as valuabe as any foreshore land in Wellington. Though it is only half built upon, it is already well on the road to bo a serious reflection on the controlling authorities. Why was not provision made ror the extension through to the waterfront of Blair, Allen, and Tory Streets, even though a derelict railway station may block the way at present? There is still the opportunity to do so. in the case of Blair Street, but the intention is not suggested in the Harbour Board lay-out, for the alignment of the street which should provide for that extension is not at all in agreement with the visual continuation of Blair Street. This should be attended to at once, as a sane jrfeasure in city planning.’ ~ “It may not be generally known, he added, “but there, is no means provided of getting ’into AVakefiield Street or Courtenay Place from the Harbour Board’s block between Clyde Quay and Taranaki Street. It you are concerned in any of the buildings which are being erected at all angles on the Harbour Board’s block and wish to go to Courtenay Place, you have to either go round by way of Lower Taranaki Street or Clyde Quay. Is this up-to-date town planning? Tjm City Council is not improving tho locality. home years ago there was talk or shifting the destructor away- from the entrance to our very fine marine parade, but instead of that the corporation is digging in. .Quite, near the utterly disgraceful corporation stables, are the new milk department stables, and at another angle is a big sprawling yard surrounded by one-storied buildings, used as a store by the Tramways Department. This improves the aspect of the waterfront by presenting a dead, windowless, -concrete wall, about 40 yards long, to the harbour front Will the authorities never learn that symmetry in lay-out and building may KO hand-in-hand with utility?”