One thing was unanimous: it needed to change.
"It's rundown ... They're crummy buildings ... The only thing consistent about them is inconsistency," a local businessman said.
And what about the waterfront?
"It's a little bit underwhelming, to be honest.
"There's nothing going on in the actual water."
The major challenges highlighted included the location of the railway track along The Strand and the separation it created between the restaurants and the waterfront, the shift of businesses from the city centre to Cameron Rd and the number of retailers closing.
Others said it was hard for visitors to know where the "centre" or "heart" of the city was, or how to find it.
Minor challenges included the "cluttered" footpath along The Strand, with the trees and triangular seats.
Major opportunities included the planned tertiary precinct, a proposed sports stadium at Wharepai Domain, a possible museum, and having the waterfront to work with, all in the hope of bringing people and vibrancy back to the area.
"More people, more often, for longer."
Ideas generated in discussion groups varied considerably, but a lot of people were interested in retaining and even adding more green spaces.
Another said Tauranga needed its own flavour to attract a niche market - something different from what was on offer at other centres such as Mount Maunganui and Bayfair.
The comments from yesterday's workshops will be used as a basis for the council's spending decisions.
