Artists and designers step in to stop Ponsonby’s Soho

Ponsonby's art and fashion brigade is supporting the battle to stop a large "shopping mall-type development" going up in the suburb.

Fashion designers Adrian Hailwood, Marilyn Sainty and Mark Cane, artists Judy Darragh and Pamela Wolfe, George FM host Peter Urlich, and art consultant Hamish Keith oppose plans to turn the old DYC vinegar factory into a $200 million retail, office and apartment development.

They are among the overwhelming majority of 222 submitters opposed to the Soho Square development fronting Williamson Ave, Pollen St and Crummer Rd, just back from the Ponsonby Rd ridge and facing the Waitakere Ranges.

Just three submissions support Marlin Group's development plans.

One submitter, Jamie Hosking of Grey Lynn described the project as "more similar to a shopping mall-type development rather than the small-scale, character-filled establishments on Ponsonby Rd."

However, the architects and the planning consultants for Marlin last week told the Herald that people had the wrong idea about the project, which was more "urban village" than commercial.

Jeremy Whelan, managing director of Parnell-based Ignite Architects, said it had 3500sq m of open space and drew parallels between Soho and the Chancery shopping centre in central Auckland. "It's not just a big crass development," he said.

However, plans by Marlin to exceed the floor area by nearly 70 per cent, height controls by three storeys in places, and a 231-carpark shortfall have drawn sharp criticism.

The ASB Charitable Trusts, which has its headquarters in the listed Allendale building on the corner of Ponsonby and Crummer Rds, and the Historic Places Trust, have questioned the impact of the development on heritage buildings.

A planner for the ASB trusts, Brian Putt, said a traffic report for Marlin required more detailed work on the potential negative effects of high traffic volumes coming in and out of Soho.

Andy Roelants, of Metro Film in Pollen St, said Soho would benefit local businesses and the community at large. The council is yet to consider Soho, but the matter goes back to the urban design panel on November 17. The panel has already given the development initial backing.

What's planned

* Five new buildings up to eight storeys on 1.3ha former DYC vinegar factory site.

* 717-seat cinema; more than 30 shops, cafes and bars.

* Five-level underground carpark with 1241 spaces.

* Exceeds floor area by 69 per cent, height controls by three storeys and has 231-carpark shortfall.