Subscribe to RSSWynyard Quarter Looking Fine
I have big hopes for Wynard Quarter.
After years of moaning about the oil tanks and its mis-use of a valuable harbour edge gateway space, we can see a change to a people-friendly area thought out as a whole rather than a typically Auckland piecemeal approach.
This is an area with great potential that has been crying out for revitalisation.
It’s a shame it is still a well kept secret. Few people know what I’m talking about when I mention Wynyard. The media has largely ignored the development, probably because it has been free of the scandal they thrive on.
Wynyard Crossing is the interim pedestrian and cycling bridge over Viaduct Harbour, and work on Gateway Plaza is underway. The plaza, which is adjacent to the Viaduct Events Centre, will include seating, artwork and steps down to the water’s edge.
By August this year when North Wharf opens, the rest of the first stage of Wynyard Quarter’s revitalisation will be largely complete. It will transform Jellicoe Street into a waterfront boulevard.
Tenants for North Wharf so far include Marvel Grill, Gelatiamo (I Storm), Rushworth (MacGregor Brothers ), The Conservatory, Jack Tar (Red Shed), Urban Turban I Sushi & Yakitori, Live Fish Seafood Restaurant and Pescado.
The Viaduct Events Centre, has bookings for the Volvo Ocean Race, Seafood Festival, Auckland International Boat Show and Fashion Week.
Also to be completed by RWC is Silo Park at the western end of Jellicoe Street, which will be a green, public open space where people can relax, enjoy the views out to the Harbour Bridge, watch the marine industry at work, explore the cement silos, and where children can enjoy the playground.
By then electric trams will be running. At present there are no bus routes entering the Wynyard Quarter, only passing by on Fanshawe Street.
The new Auckland Transport proposal expected to be confirmed any day would see buses on the 010 service access Wynyard Quarter 36 times every weekday from Ponsonby, Grey Lynn and Western Springs.
The planned new Inner City Service would include 87 bus movements to the area from Queens Street and K Rd on weekdays and 50 bus movements on weekends. The 15 minute Outer Loop would also run along Fanshawe Street.
ASB Bank’s headquarters on the corner of Halsey and Jellicoe streets will be opened in 2013, bringing a further 1300 people to work in Wynyard Quarter. Over the next 15 years this is expected to increase to a total of 14,000, with a further 7000 people living in Wynyard Quarter.
11 Comments
Some one remind me again why we need Party Central when wer have a perfectly good event centre nearly complete?
Great post Jon. You are right hardly anyone seems to be aware that this is happening. Everyone I speak to just stares blankly at me when I ask them about it. It will be a fantastic edition to the CBD.
There were some article about it, even in the Granny (maybe 10-20 over the last 2 years).
That girder structure (last 2 photos) seen up close is a lot cooler than it looks on plans and photos. I was very sceptical of it - why do we need a viewing platform when we have the SixPack silo to use for it - but it might just work.
North Wharf will be lovely, shame I’m not into seafood much, or it would be a great spot that I would love to hang out at (I may still do so!).
I hope it’s all done in time. Nearing the two month mark!
I think when people see North Wharf, they’ll undersatnd why it was important to keep the shed on Queens wharf. It to could be kept as an interesting heritage building / opened up to the west for dining/out door tables etc, and a great public space around it.
we’d then have a peoples waterfront from there to Wynyard.
The scale of North Wharf will hopefully keep it with a nice “feel” for people. Hopefully a bit better than the viaduct bars! will mean the area can cater to different tastes/styles
*wonders where all the activities that these wharves were built for are actually going to?*
because next we’ll have all these people moving in down there and complaining about shipping noise.
It’s great to see that finally we are getting something that adds value, and accessibility for us all, to our waterfront.
It’s amazing how much of the waterfront will be accessible this summer. I estimate that the addition of Queen’s Wharf, Halsey Wharf and North Wharf will almost double the amount of waterfront in Auckland. Plus with the remaining sections of Wynyard Wharf and potential Marsden and Captain Cook wharves to come this should give us an amazing waterfront.
“I hope it’s all done in time. Nearing the two month mark!”
There was obviously still a lot to be done (for example, Jellicoe Street is apparently to have quite a bit of planting in place, but they were still working on the streetscape and the treepits). On the other hand, they were working on Sundays, so obviously they read the calendar
“*wonders where all the activities that these wharves were built for are actually going to?*”
Carl, the existing uses are ferry terminal, seafood landing, bulk petrochemical storage and shipbuilding.
The first two actions will remain to my understanding - in fact, more of the tourist ferries will go from the overcrowded main ferry terminal to here, and the use of the wharves are designed so that unloading of fishing boats can still happen, despite nearby public spaces.
The third (tank farm) is slowly moving out or elsewhere / shifting to floating barges for ship refueling / to Marsden Point.
The last use (shipbuilding) is retaining some areas along the western edge, with the rest moving to Hobsonville Peninsula.
“because next we’ll have all these people moving in down there and complaining about shipping noise.”
Give them some credit - the folks at Waterfront Auckland (who I’ve met on a few occasions) seem very clued-up, and won’t forget such a basic thing. As far as I am aware, residential areas will be screened from the noisier uses by intervening areas of other uses, such as offices.
“The scale of North Wharf will hopefully keep it with a nice “feel” for people. Hopefully a bit better than the viaduct bars! will mean the area can cater to different tastes/styles”
The Waterfront folks noted that they see the North Wharf to be a more family-oriented kind of area than the Viaduct Bars.
“we’d then have a peoples waterfront from there to Wynyard.”
Actually, their official area of influence goes from the Harbour Bridge to Teal Park (though of course with an eastern “gap” for the working ports), so their plans for tying the whole together extend further, especially in the mid term (next 2-3 years).
I go down there regularly to check the place out and shop at the Seafood Market. The place is coming along nicely and is going to be awesome when it is a bit more complete.
I still prefer the name ‘Tank Farm’ to ‘Wynyard Quarter’. ”Tank Farm’ is much more funky (as well as being easier to spell).