If the council wants to revive the heart of Ashburton's CBD, they could take inspiration from a refurbished retail zone in town.

Developers Justin Skilling and Robert Grice have been restoring the old buildings along Victoria Street and reshaping the area known as the Triangle, a historic retail precinct in the town centre.

“It becomes a destination. People talk about it and they go there for a look," Skilling said.

“We found a way to do it."

Skilling said investing in street art, lighting, and giving the buildings a uniform look had created a positive atmosphere.

“Once you create an area, then its businesses feeding off businesses.

“I'm not quite sure what it's added to the local economy, but it's all new businesses and creating a lot of jobs.”

Ashburton District councillors voted this month to complete a $50,000 study into ways to increase the town centre's foot traffic and vibrancy.

Skilling welcomed the fact that the Triangle is being included in the council’s CBD study.

The Triangle had previously been considered just outside the CBD – and was not included in the recent $15m town centre upgrade.

Skilling said the council's study is “a positive, especially incorporating a bigger area”.

He wasn’t completely sold on the idea of resurrecting the Ashburton Business Association as a better option, as suggested by one former member.

“I'm picking it would take a bit to get off the ground again.”

It relies on membership and participation, having the potential to be “a lot of talk” that doesn’t lead to action, he said.

“It's probably worth doing the study, and getting it right," he said.

“Everybody could get something out of it, rather than a network group”.

Inner CBD living also has potential for Ashburton, he said.

“You see it in Christchurch, where there are businesses, restaurants, and people living close to it. It seems to work.

“Some landscaped areas, somewhere people can walk around, it just creates atmosphere, and it just gives it life.”

The new carpark being built on the old Polytech site near the Triangle could be crucial “if it was to be done properly”.

“It all sort of starts with parking, whether it's local, domestic or international travellers, and then from there they can lead into the CBD.”

Laneway the missing link in Ashburton’s CBD?

The Triangle sits between Te Whare Whakatere, Ashburton’s library and Civic centre, and its event space in Baring Square and the Ashburton Events Centre.

It’s why Skilling pitched a plan to the council in 2024 to bring some heart back to the CBD by closing Victoria Street to vehicles and turning it into a laneway, but it was not included in the council’s long-term plan.

He felt there was interest in the laneway idea, but accepted that at the time, the council had its eye on the cost of building a second bridge.

A loose estimate in the council’s long-term plan deliberations was it would cost $3m.

Skilling felt the figure was “a bit extreme” as all the underground services were up to date in the Triangle, meaning work to create the laneway would just be "cosmetic”.

Now, with the council’s CBD study and construction on the bridge starting next year, Skilling said it could be time to reconsider the laneway.

“I'd imagine a few tables or a few things out there and just tidy it up a bit.”

There are also inexpensive options to run a trial, such as using concrete-block bollards or planters to close the street to traffic, he said.

In the meantime, the progress continues in the Triangle.

“I've got a couple of buildings that I'm just waiting to get into next year to tidy them up.

“There's still a bit on the horizon.”

By Jonathan Leask