Owners plan to make big mall even bigger

The shopping centre's owners say the redevelopment would add offices and restaurants to create a ``town centre'' effect. Photo / Supplied.

The owners of St Lukes shopping centre have unveiled plans to expand the busy mall.

Westfield NZ wants to extend the centre out to the north and east, and build surrounding restaurants and office space.

The company wants a new town centre or "mainstreet-type" development on St Lukes' northern boundaries between Exeter Rd and Aroha Ave.

Diagrams show a new maximum building envelope, although Westfield said these needed refinement.

The company said that the long-term plan could expand retail space by about a third over the next 25 years.

But community leaders are vowing to stop what they claim would be the over-development of the site.

Eden/Albert Community Board member Councillor Glenda Fryer said the board would oppose the expansion.

"They're dreaming. It's horrific. Residents are quiet fearful about traffic and dominance.

"A modest do-up would be accepted but Westfield has gone over the top, trying to impose an Australian or American mall solution."

Residents around Aroha Ave on St Lukes' northern side had already complained about more traffic, noise and litter, she said.

In its application for a plan change, Westfield said the Mt Albert Library and Citizens' Advice Bureau should be shifted to the north of St Lukes as part of a rethink of the wider area.

The library, between the mall and Cornwallis St, was the second-most patronised library in Auckland City's boundaries, Westfield said.

Yet it would function better if it was moved to St Lukes' northern side as part of a new mainstreet-style shopping, restaurant and office precinct.

Auckland City's urban design panel and council officers had expressed
support for shifting the library and bureau.

But Ms Fryer said Westfield really wanted more entries to St Lukes, hence the Aroha/Exeter plans.

Westfield said the library and bureau were not part of the current proposal, but the move was anticipated.

The mall owner also wants to extend St Lukes out to the east and develop pedestrian links from the mall to Morningside Drive, Cornwallis St and Warren Freer Park.

Westfield particularly wants Auckland City to rezone its big land bank which ring-fences the mall, granting permission to develop up to 15,000sq m of offices, which is enough for about 1000 workers.

Changes to the city's district plan need to allow the expansion were notified on Sunday, and people have until May 29 to make submissions.

Westfield owns many properties around the Sandringham mall but has applied for those to be re-zoned to enable the push out and up.

Westfield said it wanted to let surrounding property owners know the full extent of its expansion plans.

Said planners Bentley and Co: "The purpose of the proposed plan change is to enable the future expansion of Westfield St Lukes in a planned and co-ordinated manner and to signal to the neighbours of the centre the anticipated full extent of that expansion."

A spokesman for Westfield said: "Since the centre was originally built in 1971, shopping habits and lifestyles of the surrounding community have changed. Westfield has implemented the initial process towards ensuring

St Lukes is at the heart of a well-functioning town-centre for this local area.

"The design, visual and amenity improvements to Westfield St Lukes will integrate with the current and hopefully future upgrades to public transport services.

"The plan change will complement the review by council of the existing district plan for the general surrounding area which has been designated
as a business development area for the region and St Lukes would be able to add to provision of the amenities required by the community over time.

"Given we are only in the early planning stages, we have yet to make decisions regarding the extent or timing of future developments," the spokesman said.

"Any such developments are likely to be staged over a considerable period of time. We are excited about the potential outcomes, including much needed job creation in construction and retail.

Shops had been developed more intensely in Newmarket and Sylvia Park had opened, all in response to rising shopper demand.

Yet expansion in the western area was lagging so it was natural for St Lukes to push north and east, Westfield said.

"With Westfield NZ owning a substantial area of land to the north of and adjoining the existing Westfield St Lukes shopping centre, the expansion of this well-established and strategically located centre is anatural choice for providing more retail space to address demand," Bentley said.

Shops would be "in-filled" up to the boundary of Morningside Drive and St Lukes Rd.

All shops would face outwards towards the streets and bus stops on Morningside Drive should be shifted to "safer and more convenient locations" opposite the Exeter Rd intersection, Westfield said.

ST LUKES

THEN:
NZ's first fully enclosed mall
*1971: established.
*1991: expanded.
*2003: cinemas added.

NOW:
*One supermarket (Foodtown);
*Two department stores (Farmers and Kmart).
*131 specialty shops.
*3 banks and 2018 carparks.
*644-seat food court.
*640-seat cinema complex.

FUTURE:
*Move adjacent library/Citizens' Advice Bureau.
*Develop 15,000sq m office space.
*Link streets on northern boundary.
*Refocus mall to face outwards.
*Build out on the north and east sides.
*Create new "main street" town centre.

Full details are available at www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/news/notices/200904/26/n02.asp under "Plan modification 8, Westfield St Lukes"