Ravaged retail centre reborn
LOIS CAIRNS
Thousands of people enjoyed the sun and festive atmosphere during the first day of shopping in the new City Mall.
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Christchurch Earthquake 2011
A day for Christchurch to remember
Christchurch's new container mall enthralled shoppers yesterday, Lois Cairns reports.
After eight months living in a quake-battered home, Erin Higgins needed a morale boost – and she got it yesterday when her beloved department store Ballantynes reopened its doors for the first time since February's deadly shake.
"I've been longing for this," Higgins said as she stood among the cosmetic counters in the refurbished ground floor of the iconic department store. "It's so great to have it back – I've really missed it."
For Higgins, the reopening of Ballantynes is such an important milestone in the city's recovery that she persuaded her sister, Ann Crook, to fly down from Martinborough and friend Linda Hayman to drive up from Mt Cook so they, too, could witness the rebirth of the store and the opening of Christchurch's new central city retail precinct.
Built out of shipping containers, the precinct is home to more than 20 shops and represents a new beginning for Christchurch's quake-ravaged CBD.
An excited mayor Bob Parker told the thousands who gathered yesterday for the official opening of the precinct that it was a "genesis moment".
"This marks the beginning of our city making the most extraordinary comeback," he said.
Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee admitted that he was initially sceptical the Restart project could be completed in time for Christchurch's Cup and Show Week, but the team behind it had shown huge fortitude and determination.
"Today gives us a little taste of what we can rebuild in Christchurch," Brownlee said.
Prime Minister John Key, who cut the ribbon to officially open the retail precinct, said it was an "incredibly funky" project.
Ilam resident Mary Norton said she couldn't believe how much the area had changed.
Getting the precinct ready for yesterday's opening has been a mammoth task, with contractors working through the night on Friday to get work finished. They were still putting finishing touches on some areas minutes before the opening ceremony.
When the cordons around Cashel Mall were finally pulled down yesterday shortly before midday, and the public allowed into the mall for the first time since February 22, thousands streamed through.
Among those leading the charge was Sue McCormack, from Fendalton, who came wearing an "I love Christchurch" badge. "I'm really for Christchurch moving forward and this is a really good starting point," she said.
"`It's going to bring people back in to the city centre and give people a better understanding of what's gone on here," said Kath Mawdsley, who was also in the crowd.
Next weekend Christchurch residents will get to see even more of their quake-damaged CBD as the first of the red-zone bus tours gets under way.
Meanwhile, St John Ambulance attended its first callout in the central city since the February 22 earthquake.
A woman in her 70s, attending yesterday's mall restart project opening, fell over outside Ballantynes on the corner of Cashel and Colombo Sts.
Ambulance spokesman Ian Henderson said she had suffered leg and chest injuries and was taken to the Christchurch Hospital Emergency Department and was in a moderate condition.
BALLANTYNES' HISTORY
1854: Millinery and drapery shop established by David Clarkson, his wife Esther, and sister Elizabeth.
1872: John Ballantyne buys the business and in 1920 it becomes JBallantyne and Co.
1947: New Zealand's deadliest building fire erupts in the store. About 300 customers and staff are evacuated from the lower levels but 41 staff working on upper levels died.
2004: Ballantynes celebrates 150 years of retailing in Christchurch.
2010: Mary Devine is appointed managing director, the first woman – and first non-family member in more than a century – to lead the company.
2011: February's earthquake shuts down central Christchurch, including Ballantynes. The company redeploys staff to its Timaru shop, putting on bus tours for customers.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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The rest of the world IS watching ... well done Christchurch!
@SK #22 "To those who suggest the containers should be a permanent feature... please no!"..[snip].. "Perhaps what these people really mean is they like the laneway arrangement."
No, what people [in the video] really mean is what they say in the video: the containers are stylish, classy, adventurous, safe and a fantastic idea. Haven't been yet but after seeing this video definitely will visit soon! And what a absolutely fantastic way of now quickly setting up more vacant blocks' worth of 'Arts Centre' style craft shops, galleries, specialty shops and creative/IT style small businesses. Imagine a few of these container areas interspersed with quickly landscaped other vacant lots of wildflowers, native plantings. The young people in the video have it spot-on: it's a great vision of the [near] future; [and would frankly, stop the country needing to borrow huge amounts in order to rebuild in Chch on geologically compromised land]. And a speedy tourism attraction, guaranteed.
Yes it is marvellous to see life back in this part of the city again.
For those who like to spend their money on high-end fashion and trinkets the cointainer mall is no doubt a wonderful place.
To me though, who doesn't get their kicks from high end fashion and trinkets, the main point in visiting was to view Hereford St where I used to work, to mourn, remember, contemplate and hope, to adjust the mental mindmap of the city.
I think the art gallery should have reopened simultaneously with this retail developement, in recognition there is more to our city than just spending on clothes and bits and bobs.
To those who suggest the containers should be a permanent feature... please no! I would much rather enjoy the appearance and gravitas of proper, attractive, architectually designed, environmentally friendly, solid buildings in the long term. Perhaps what these people really mean is they like the laneway arrangement. The draft city plan does propose more laneways. They create an intimacy and spark a curiosity about what is around the next corner and that is part of what makes a city exciting.
Small beginnings maybe, but it was great to be back there. And special thanks to those who burnt the midnight oil to get the place ready for the opening.
Who knows what our city will look like once rebuilt, but I loved the senses of space that was evident in the Container Mall.
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10:56 pm Oct 30 2011
Visited Saturday, have to say it has exceeded all expectations! Awesome effort, to all those that had a hand in its creation - well done. The beginnings of great things. To all those whingers best you stay away, CBD doesn't need your negativity, you proberbly never shopped in the CBD anyway!
To Robin #5, People like you should keep your big mouth shut, what the people of Christchurch have done is great, it is as much about healing mentally as it is physically for alot of people. Negative crap like your comment should be kept to yourself. You may be correct, but leave the people of Christchurch to mend in any way they feel they can. Negative, pesimistic people get nothing done except complain about those who ae trying, if you are in Christchurch, may be you should pack your bags, we don't need people like you here.!!!
I went to the opening yesterday of the city mall and just loved it. It epitomised to me the amazing creativity and tenacity of the people of Christchurch. Everything was so beautifully prepared and presented - the great containers of lavender, freshly planted gardens, the hanging baskets, the brightly coloured container shops, the live music, the energetic and cheerful staff in the shops and cafes, oh and the big bowls of chocolate kisses handed out at Ballantynes was a gorgeous touch. Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard to get this all together - a fantastic morale boost to the people of Christchurch and Canterbury.
To the negative types, if you have nothing to offer then why bother commenting?? Seriously if you don't like it get out of Chch; the city doesn't need negativity. You can call it realistic but it isn't. Ambience of a mall?? Had to laugh when I read that one. A mall has about the same ambience of a construction site - loud and tacky. Well done all those who put in all the work to get this ready. Can't wait to be back for the rest of the rebuild which WILL be great with those who think positively in control. Baby steps are better than no steps at all!
Took our 8 month old daughter to the city for the first time today - 'across the river' on the way home from the hospital when the feb quake shook but all good luckily apart from the house. Awesome to be back in the city and all the guys and girls who put in the hours on the new mall deserve a massive thank you, sweet as .....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Just came back from a trip to Cashel Mall. What a lovely atmosphere! It was great seeing friends meeting for coffee, people getting their cup day dresses, everyone was smiling-was so nice to see. I couldn't help but notice the guys walking around in the hi-vise jackets and the construction going on around the Mall, but it didn't affect my expereince today. The mall looks bright, funky, and its great to see everyone comng back with their heads held high...just wish after all that shopping I could of sat on the strip with a cold glass of wine.
To all the negative comments on here..yes Christchurch is not the same but instead of complaining and accusing people of being rubber neckers (umm sorry if we want to know whats going on in our city!)either get over it or get with it I say!!!!