A strongly worded letter from the Griffith and Narrabundah Community Association (GNCA) has called on the ACT Government to rejuvenate the Manuka precinct that they say is โin a state of depressing declineโ.
Citing โcracked and shabby paved areas, pedestrian-unfriendly streets, unhealthy trees, fenced off areas awaiting development and other eyesoresโ, the letter, written by GNCA President Leo Dobes, suggested โsignificant improvements could be achieved with a number of simple cosmetic measuresโ.
The improvements suggested by the GNCA include laneway makeovers, more public bins, replacing existing graffiti with commissioned โcongenial street artโ, and converting of Franklin Street between Furneaux Street and Flinders Way into a shared traffic zone, akin to Bunda Street in Civic.
Inner South Canberra Business Council (ISBC) Chairman John-Paul Romano said they donโt believe the precinct is in depressing decline.
โWe certainly agree that the amenity of the area is begging to be upgraded,โ he said.
โWe can see that this is not the sole duty of government, it is also the duty of local businesses and developers.
โThe ACT Government needs to also invest, in nothing major, rather smaller things like repainting old heritage street furniture, landscaping, tree maintenance and planting more trees.โ
ACT Shadow Planning Minister Mark Parton told 2CC radio that the lack of attention shown by the government toward Manuka precinct, combined with rising commercial rates, make it hard for nearby business owners.
โLeaf sweeping, uneven and cracked pavement โฆ all of these factors are leading to fewer and fewer people coming to the area.
โThose commercial rates are a massive concern for local business; they do put pressure on the rents for tenant businesses, and they also translate to less money to be spent on the maintenance of the building.
โWhen I arrived (in Canberra) at the back end of last century, Manuka was the place to be โฆ You have to get in there, display a bit of respect for Manuka, and spruce it up in the little ways,โ he said.
Mr Romano said local businesses want to see the Liangis familyโs proposed multi-million dollar hotel development on the corner block of Flinders Way and Franklin Street go ahead, which is currently being held up due to a heritage-listed London plane tree on Franklin Street.
โIt will certainly be a great rejuvenation, coupled with the Morris Groupโs 400 apartments going up where the Stuart Flats were.โ
Mr Romano said because of the way the ACT planning regulations work, the developer canโt even demolish the existing, semi-vacant building.
โWe may get to the point where it becomes similar to the row in Curtin where thereโs a hoarded-up building sitting closed for two to three years โฆ we certainly donโt think anyone would like to see that happen,โ he said.
The ISBC has sent a letter to Minister Gentleman co-signed by 80 local businesses, stating they want that development to go ahead.
The GNCAโs letter presented a solution, which would involve designing the building to wrap around the tree, โcreating an enclave with seating that is shaded by the treeโ.
The ACT Government was contacted for comment but did not respond by print deadline.
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