Two or three hospitality businesses will open onto the soon to be built Phoenix park, and a restaurant upstairs may overlook the park.
A multi-million-dollar development in Mount Maunganui's retail heart will have a strong dining focus once Phoenix carpark is transformed into a place for people to relax.
Demolition of the old building at the northern end of the carpark was due to begin after Easter, and the development and the green parkland should be open by Christmas.
The announcement yesterday of the 1100sq m floor area development coincided with the Tauranga City Council releasing its vision of how the revamped carpark would look.
The owners of the old building are taking a leaf out of what happened when the council upgraded Masonic Park between The Strand and Willow St in the downtown. A new building there turned its restaurant and cafe to open out onto the park.
Tauranga pharmacist Peter McSweeney, who put together a team to handle the development at the Mount, said a lot of hard work over two years had brought the project to the stage where tenders for the construction closed today.
McSweeney said he and his business partner wanted a building they would be proud of and that lasted the test of time. They enlisted First Principles Architects.
''It will add something to the Mount.''
He said it would be first new building for about 10 years along the Mount Shopping Centre's main corridor between Banks and Pacific Aves.
Eves Realty would be the anchor tenant for the new building, taking the corner frontage and leasing a large upstairs area for offices.
Pharmacist Peter McSweeney is behind the development planned for Eves corner at the northern end of Mount Maunganui Shopping Centre's Phoenix carpark. Photo / George Novak
Two or three hospitality businesses would open onto the park, and a restaurant upstairs may overlook the park.
''We are talking to some pretty excited people in the hospitality trade.''
The Maunganui Rd frontage would feature Eves, a small boutique shop and space for a larger shop.
Mount Mainstreet chairwoman Jane Debenham welcomed the retail development, saying the new building would help keep the street vibrant and fresh.
And the unveiling of the council's plan for Phoenix carpark has put an emphasis on providing spaces for people to enjoy. It would start taking shape from the end of the month.
Mount councillor Leanne Brown said that ideally the park would encourage visitors and locals to stay longer in the Mount CBD.
"It will be a flexible, usable space that will enhance its unique surrounding. We hope this will pave the way for similar projects across the city."
The transformation was set to start on Wednesday with the removal of a small number of phoenix palms at the northern end of the park. The northern end would be blocked off after Easter, but the remaining area of the carpark would be available for customers as long as possible.
The Mount Mainstreet office building was planned to shift in the week after Easter. The number of parking spaces in Phoenix carpark would fluctuate during construction. Parking would be free, with time limits.
The final park design retained up to 20 spaces. The carpark next to May St would remain open and expand to accommodate 12 extra cars. New carparks were being added to Nikau Cres and Prince Ave.
Phoenix carpark redevelopment plan - Grassed areas for people to play and relax - Native trees to provide shade - A flexible space for year-round events and activities Source: Tauranga City Council
