6 | Redevelopment strikes perfect balance Richard Loader The Greenway is a pedestrian and cycle friendly shared pathway that runs through the CBD from almost Hagley Park to several blocks past St Asaph Street. “The overall result is even better than we expected and it has set us up for the future. The Greenway has been tastefully planted by Otakaro with native pungas and ferns and is a really nice space.” to page 8 Team Hutchinson Ford CEO John Hutchinson has a new passion in life. With an open door policy John just loves hearing all the positive things that customers are saying about Team Hutchinson Ford’s new customer friendly redevelopment of its prime Tuam Street site, complete with pedestrian and cycle Greenway. The recently completed extensive redevelopment was driven by the Government’s decision to construct the city’s Greenway through the site, under Earthquake Recovery legislation. The Greenway is a pedestrian and cycle friendly shared pathway that runs through the CBD from almost Hagley Park to several blocks past St Asaph Street. Following the earthquakes, the Government’s initial plans for the city removed all car dealerships from the central city in favour of creating a campus style look and feel to the city, says John. “We had been on the Tuam Street site for one hundred years under the names Ford Motors Canterbury, Hutchinson Motors and Team Hutchinson Ford. “I’m the third generation to be managing the business and so we were deeply passionate about staying. “We were eventually given the greenlight that we could stay but with the Greenway dissecting our business, running from Colombo Street through to Manchester Street.” Effectively, a nine-metre wide public pedestrian and cycleway now separates the 1970s showroom building from the heritage listed workshop building designed by iconic architect Cecil Wood. Embracing the idea of the Greenway, John and his team could clearly see how it would give the business a uniqueness and worked on achieving the best outcome, making its section of the Greenway as interesting as possible. Built from beautiful old timber, the old roof trusses of the old historic building cover part of the Greenway, adding appeal and acting as a time tunnel. Adding to the historical note, five large graphic panels will be installed in the Greenway explaining Team Hutchinson Ford’s journey on the site. “The overall result is even better than we expected and it has set us up for the future. The Greenway has been tastefully planted by Otakaro with native pungas and ferns and is a really nice space. “ DEVELOPMENT Team Hutchinson Ford “Your Canterbury-owned Construction Partner” www.higgsconstruction.co.nz . i i . . ‘Working with and alongside Team Hutchinson Ford as their construction partner during this significant remodelling project’
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