CBD living, Porirua Styles
The only person living in the Porirua CBD is the owner of The Noodle Canteen. As part of their lease for the building they asked to be able to reside in the building. Some high-rise building managers also have quarters to sleep in, but it?s unknown how well used these are. Only three other people live close the CBD: the caretaker for Whitireia Polytechnic, renters near McDonalds, and the managers of Amethyst Court Motel. Motel manager Cath Bechet and her husband took over the establishment six weeks ago and her first impressions of living near the CBD are positive. ?We are quite impressed with the area, it?s well laid out and I enjoy walking across the road to the city complex. ?I like that Coburn Court is undercover and that we don?t need to take the car for supermarket shopping,? says Mrs Bechet. Population growth would ?defiantly? be a positive for the area and people would enjoy living in the centre, she says. ?There is more access for people, vehicles are too expensive and many of our guests prefer to take the train into the city.? Porirua Chamber of Commerce executive director Simon Calvert?says, ?We need 1000 people in there, but we are a long way off from that?. Feedback has been positive to the council?s plans but property owners are anxious to see progress start, he says. ?The next stage is being planned and [the council] will release further design work around the 12 December,? Mr Calvert?says. The 700 worker call-centre contract is ?a no-goer unfortunately? as staff wanted to remain centrally based. The idea of moving the train station closer to town has been dropped in favour of an ?iconic bridge? that would direct foot traffic to the new main street. ?At the moment they are filtering off under the New World building ... an angled bridge would better feed them to the main road,? says Mr Calvert.
