I suspect the days of downtown Tauranga being a retail hub are gone and I'm not sure we will ever get that back.
I'll admit I prefer to shop at Bayfair. I like the convenience of having all the stores I need in one place - and it doesn't matter if it's raining. Yes, parking is also easier there.
There is still hope for downtown but I believe it will lie more in being a dining and entertainment precinct.
The restaurants on The Strand have an amazing outlook and the waterfront is a great space to hang out in summer.
The Jazz Festival's downtown carnival is an example of how vibrant the area can be and how it could be better used.
For an idea of what it could become look at Auckland's Wynyard Quarter. It's largely a pedestrian only area on the waterfront and it's always packed.
You can't park right outside the restaurant you are going to but there is plenty of street parking nearby.
What's the harm in walking a couple of blocks? It's a great excuse to justify a dessert.
In winter, the restaurants and bars in the Wynyard Quarter are packed and, in summer, Aucklanders and tourists enjoy strolling through the area with an ice cream or having a picnic. Kids play on the playgrounds and pop-up exhibitions give visitors something to look at.
An area like that in Tauranga would undoubtedly be popular.
We need to do something radical to draw people back to Tauranga City.
I think Cr Cowley's idea is just what we need. Let's get behind him and give him the support he needs to make it happen.
