Market Street myth-perceptions addressed
Liquidambar trees, such as these pictured, will give way to other species as part of the Market Street project. Photo: Supplied
It’s been called a refresh. It’s been called a revamp. Whatever you call it, the Blenheim CBD project is underway – repairing infrastructure, renovating walkways, reshaping the streetscape and, in the interim, redirecting vehicles on Market Street.
The latter may have some Marlburians rethinking trips to Town Centre and some business owners revising expectations on foot traffic. However, Council is reinforcing a refrain from Councillor Ben Stace, who holds the CBD portfolio: “Market Street is open for business.”
He elaborated in a Friday morning interview that storefronts remain accessible. “Yes, the roads are closed, so you cannot pull up and park right outside,” Ben said, “but the whole point is there’s work going on but you can still get to the shops.”
Council recently announced that the project’s two stages were consolidated to incorporate work on the portion from High Street to Alfred Street, still ahead of the Christmas shopping season. Through September, the road closure for Market Street will stay in place between Arthur Street and Wynen Street.
Reconstruction needed to take place on some scale, Ben explained, to bolster the stormwater system. Combining other improvements offers “economies of scale” – thus, cost savings – as does streamlining the process.
The councillor, who also is an architectural designer, noted that Blenheim has gone more than three decades without the sort of significant update coming via the refresh, revamp, reenvisioning … whatever it’s called.
What’s happening
Beyond the impression that Market Street is shut down, Ben and Council join Marlborough Chamber of Commerce and Business Trust Marlborough in addressing common perceptions.
The project funding did not come from ratepayers outside the CBD; it came from targeted rates for businesses and, in Ben’s words, is the “payback” for what’s been collected over 20 years.
Another notion is that above-ground changes consist of “just changing pavers”. While resurfacing sidewalks is happening, work also encompasses new foliage and new features.
Council is replacing liquidambar trees and fan palms, which pose maintenance issues, with species including mountain totara, kowhai, putaputaweka, magnolia and acer. Additionally, streetlights will get upgrades – and gone will be the hanging baskets atop the posts.
Though not a councillor when plans went through, Ben praises the design as “not over the top; we’re not trying to win an architectural award with this, it’s practical first. And it’s of-place: I feel this is going to reflect Marlborough.”