Easier to get around
The recent completion of the South Frame anchor project has created an attractive 3.3km circuit of our central city for walking, jogging, cycling, and new forms of micro-mobility.
The route follows the Ōtākaro-Avon River by winding along the City Promenade and includes Huanui Lane through the East Frame residential area.
It passes several eateries, cafés, and bars and is ideal for children as it includes the popular Margaret Mahy Family Playground.
A key theme of the ‘Share an Idea’ public consultation feedback after the earthquake sequence was that residents wanted a central city that was easier to get around – for all modes of transport. The paved routes along the South Frame, Promenade, and Rauora Park are changing the way people move around the CBD.
The predominant feature of the South Frame is the Greenway, a wide and leafy shared path running east-west for seven blocks. It connects the Health Precinct and the emerging Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre in the west with the East Frame, SALT District, and eventually Te Kaha, the new Multi-Use Arena.
Smaller lanes perpendicular to the Greenway improve access and allow slow-speed vehicle use to service local businesses.
“The lanes of the South Frame break up these city blocks and create more spaces for people,” says John Bridgman, the Chief Executive of Ōtākaro Limited, which has delivered the anchor project.
“Lane access enables a popular feature like the Little High Eatery to be successful without a street frontage. It’s also great to see significant residential development currently going on in the area, which will complement the established businesses,” says John.
The South Frame brings more greenery to the central city, which was another ‘Share an Idea’ feedback theme. The area has 2800m2 of gardens filled with over 20,000 plants and about 100 trees.
There are four public gathering spaces dotted around the South Frame that are proving popular lunch spots on fine days. There are also 95 seating options, dozens of culturally significant stones, and street art and information panels.
Project Landscape Architect Rob Lawry of JASMAX says the South Frame is achieving the goal of “creating a really green, vibrant, accessible part of the city that people can move through safely, away from the main streets.
“Good public realm is effectively the city’s most appreciated anchor tenant if you like,” says Rob.
“We’re providing these attractive spaces for people to activate or spill out on, and it’s been great to see these areas come to life, particularly the more established spaces down the eastern end around the SALT District.”
A map of the South Frame, East Frame, and City Promenade.