July 19 2018 | Pegasus Post | Page 9
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/60794096/pegasus-post-june-19-2018
I recently saw the article: https://www.star.kiwi/2018/05/makeover-for-eyesore/, written by Georgia O’Connor-Harding, Pegasus Post/Selwyn Times/The Star Reporter.
Georgia asked “What do you think needs to be done to improve commercial area in Richmond?”
This is the email I sent to Georgia:
Richmond Village on Stanmore Road includes: Richmond Village Green, Richmond Playground, Richmond Neighbourhood Cottage, plus your typical local shops: Supermarket, Chemist, Post Shop, Butcher, Fruit & Veges, Bin Inn, Barber, Hairdressers and Dairies.
But there is more to Richmond Village than this…
Regenerate Christchurch have suggested ‘Christchurch on a Plate’.
Heritage NZ describe the Richmond area ‘as a food resource for Maori and Pakeha settlers’.
So why don’t we create “Kai Town” an international smorgasbord within Stanmore Road featuring:
Red Orchid Thai, Hot Kiwi Food Hangi, Chillax Café, Burger Station, Richmond Seafoods Burgers Fish & Chips, On A Roll Bakery, Sun Ning Takeaways, Taj of India, Richmond Working Men’s Club, Ruedi’s Café, Bahn Thai, Persian Kitchen, The Sideline Restaurant & Bar, The Silk Road Souvlaki, North Avon Fish Fry, The Bombay Brasserie.
We have a number of untenanted commercial properties, how easy would it be to market these properties to potential restaurants/takeaways to become a part of “Kai Town”?
This area does need a makeover to help tell the Richmond Village story.
We have an identity, we have a rich Māori heritage and early settlers/archaeological/architectural history, but we haven’t been sharing this story with the Christchurch locals and our international visitors.
Regenerate Christchurch’s vision for Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor Regeneration Area includes:
CCC Cycleway (City to Sea Path – Major Cycleway), Richmond Landing, Christchurch on a Plate, Cultural Experience, Heritage Trails, Ecotourism Ventures.
We need a Richmond Village website, with a page for each address on Stanmore Road.
We need a Community Board/Map on Richmond Village Green, with QR Code links to each website page, so our non English speakers, can use Google Translate.
We need a “Richmond Village Master Plan” similar to the “Edgeware Village Master Plan”.
The “Richmond Village Master Plan” could also include a ‘walkable centre’, with lower traffic speed, making the area safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Richmond resident Gillian Sheard has been engaging with the locals, Community Board and CCC regarding options to address pedestrian safety concerns throughout Stanmore Road.
As part of the “Richmond Village Master Plan” we could change the look of Stanmore Road to create a more welcoming environment, with ‘wayfinding signage’, more street lighting with colourful flags of the different countries in our community, landscaping and outdoor seating/picnic space, and more events like a Richmond Village Market to utilise the Richmond Village Green, and “Rise Up Richmond”.