Editorial: Should City Focus be demolished?

PHOTO/ FILE

Is it time for Rotorua's City Focus to go?

That's one of the questions being looked at as part of Rotorua's Inner City Revitalisation Strategy.

The draft strategy set to go out for consultation this month says the City Focus - the pedestrian area at the centre of the Tutanekai-Hinemoa Sts intersection - is, in its current physical form, a deterrent to both foot traffic and vehicles, driving down patronage in the area and ultimately investment.

The strategy document points to high vacancies in the immediate area, and says the Inner City Steering Group has endorsed the removal of the City Focus building to not only encourage reinvestment around the intersection but to open it up to traffic with north-south flow along Tutanekai St.

The group also endorses the removal of the sails and pillars "to encourage pedestrian activity".

I can definitely see the advantage of getting traffic moving through the area. So many motorists must avoid that part of the CBD because of the inability to get to the other side of the intersection easily.

But what would losing the City Focus mean?

Right now it provides a venue for all manner of community activities - not long ago I saw my son perform in a school choir there, his first exposure to the public stage on his road to being the rock star or superstar DJ he plans to be. There's been dancing, speeches, debates, balloon animals, fundraising, demonstrations and rallies and more.

Not only that - it gives our central city real character. Without it all we have is a grid of streets, footpaths and buildings (and at some point a green corridor).
Nevertheless perhaps its time has come.

Changes in the past year in the central city - including artworks and Jake seats - are bringing more life and personality to our streets. Then there's the buzz and hum of the fantastic Night Market every Thursday, and further down the road, Eat Streat.

A report from consultants McDermott Miller Strategies says "no amount of streetscape improvements will achieve revitalisation unless the retail offer in Tutanekai St itself improves".

Maybe so, but a better looking and more versatile, traffic-friendly CBD could go a long way to attracting new retailers and giving the street that improved "retail offer".