Christchurch, we have a vision #eqnz

[marsden_online]

The Christchurch City Council today released the draft plan for the post-earthquake recovery of the Central City, an outcome (partially) of the Share an Idea program.

The Press put it online at issuu.com but it's pretty unreadable in that format - if you don't want to register an account there to get the pdf I've re-uploaded it here: http://lts.cr/KQQ

Edit: or get it from the council website: http://www.ccc.govt.nz/homeliving/civildefence/chchearthquake/centralcityplan.aspx

I've skimmed it pretty thoroughly but I'm not going to make any detailed commentary until some of it has sunk in and I've made another pass or three. First impression is that it contains pretty much everything that I could have asked for and more besides - I saw nothing to disagree with. And that's why I'm going to describe it as a vision rather than a plan - it aims high and the hurdles to be overcome in achieving it are walls made of flesh. There are a lot of other stakeholders who need to buy in and stump up before even a fraction can be achieved.

Comments

[ghetsuhm.livejournal.com]

The thing I've found the most encouraging was how many people I saw on Twitter so engaged with this, actively reading the draft plan. My impression is the same as yours. I need to go through it again, I need more detail, but overall it's hugely encouraging. I've found one nit so far: the abolition of school zoning in the central city means there'll be no school obliged to take your kid, but that's a small thing easily fixed. And I'm unconvinced by light rail. To put it lightly. But. This sounds like a city I want to live in.

[slothphil.livejournal.com]

I'm very negative about the focus on low-rise buildings, especially when they're looking to condense the CBD. Other stuff tends to look reasonable or good, though.