Street pioneers 'shared space'

Elliott St, a narrow and slightly rundown lane behind Queen St, is set to become the first "shared space" between drivers and pedestrians in central Auckland.

The Auckland City Council has begun consultation on a $9.5 million project to make over Elliott St and develop Darby St, a linkage to Queen St, into a pedestrian mall. Darby St will be closed to all vehicles, except emergency vehicles and bicycles.

Last month, urban designers won council transport committee approval to develop a suite of streets into "shared space" where pedestrians will be free to roam as long as they do not unduly hold up motorists.

Footpaths, parking spaces and most streets signs will go, leaving the onus on drivers to act on visual clues and edge carefully past pedestrians.

The concept has been successfully introduced in cities including London, New York, Copenhagen and Brisbane.

Arts, culture and recreation chairman Greg Moyle said the "shared space" concept aimed to attract people back to the central city by making a more attractive environment to shop, relax, dine and spend time in.

CBD residents' advisory group chairman Tim Coffey said inner-city residents liked the idea and Elliott St, with its low traffic count and sad need of work, was a good first-up choice.

The council spent $150,000 upgrading Elliott St in 2005, but it has taken on a tired look and become a popular spot for smokers. Several businesses have struggled and a $450 million apartment tower on the old Royal Hotel site at the northern end has been hit by the property downturn.

The southern end of Elliott St has recently had a lift with the opening of the Elliott Stables Food Gallery, behind Smith & Caugheys department store.

Mr Moyle said $9.5 million was a lot of money for the project, but hopefully it would be successful and lead to Fort, O'Connell and Lorne Sts being turned into shared spaces.

The work is largely being paid for out of a $71.7 million CBD targeted rate for upgrading the inner city.

Public consultation on the Elliott St and Darby St project runs until July 31.

All going well, work could begin in June next year and be completed in June 2011 - three months before the Rugby World Cup.