Mount retailers lose high-profile Mainstreet office

Mount Mainstreet manager Ingrid Fleming with the iconic sculpture of Mountie the Surfer. Photo / Andrew Warner

Time is running out for Mount Mainstreet's popular office in the Phoenix Carpark, made famous by its iconic statue of Mountie the Surfer.

The official letter to vacate the site was received on September 7 by the organisation that is the voice of retailers and businesses in the Mount Maunganui shopping centre.

Mainstreet manager Ingrid Fleming said the letter was not a surprise because the city council had signalled the land was needed as part of the larger redevelopment of the carpark into the "Heart of the Mount" - a place for people to meet and relax.

Sixteen years of occupying the site would end on February 16, with Mount Mainstreet seeking offers of more than $30,000 for its building.

"It has been a really positive place to be," Fleming said.

The office doubled as an unofficial visitor information centre, with volunteers coming in over the summer to help visitors with their inquiries.

Fleming said future visitor inquiries would be handled in a converted container that was planned to be shifted on to the carpark as a temporary i-Site over the summer.

Tauranga i-Sites are operated by Tourism Bay of Plenty.

She said the statue had become a much-loved icon, with every second visitor wanting to be photographed with Mountie.

"He represents the Mount. It is always really interesting to see how people react to him."

At this stage, Mainstreet did not know where Mountie would go. They were talking to the Heart of the Mount project team about putting him in the new park.

Fleming said that ideally, Mainstreet would have preferred to have continued its licence- to-occupy agreement on Phoenix Carpark because it was such a high-profile site.

She said as well as attracting visitors the office was a magnet for other people too. They might have concerns about the Mount, or were event promoters, new investors, or someone looking for a place to lease.

Mainstreet had put out feelers for a new office in the mainstreet blocks. It was unlikely to be a high-profile ground-floor office site because the rent would be too high, she said.

"It needs to be in the hub to provide a service and to be an efficient and pro-active organisation - we need to stay fully connected with members."

Mount Mainstreet is a partner in the process to design the Heart of the Mount. "The design is looking good but there is still more work to be done. It will be a great addition to Mount Maunganui."

Fleming said all the carparks lost to the redevelopment would be replaced around the Mount downtown before the closure of Phoenix Carpark.

The building adjoining the northern side of the carpark was planned to be demolished and replaced with a two-storey building, featuring a new ground-floor restaurant and cafe opening on to the park.

In the meantime, she asked people interested in buying the office building and shifting it to contact Harry Hill on 0274-759-707.

Mainstreet member Mandy Gillgren of Zeytins said she had warmed to the idea of the park. "We have got to take the positives out of it and run with it - hopefully everyone will be doing the same."