Mayor proposes 'edgy' street-art zone for Cuba St
October 7, 2010
Mayor Kerry Prendergast wants to create a mecca for urban street art on lower Cuba St which would become a gateway to Wellington's bohemian quarter.
The plan would see spraycan-wielding artists create "living" street art – not tagging or graffiti – on private buildings, as well as on public property and fixtures.
Inspiration came after Ms Prendergast visited Melbourne's street-art-lined Hosier Lane, which has become a tourist hotspot.
Her plan is at an early stage and is reliant on support from property owners willing to have ever-changing art painted on their buildings.
Its release yesterday comes just days out from Saturday's midday polling deadline for the Wellington mayoralty. Ms Prendergast is seeking a fourth term.
Celia Wade-Brown, the leading mayoral challenger, said the priority for improving public art should be in areas such as Opera House Lane. "That is unattractive and unsafe at the moment."
Wellington City Council planners are already working on final plans for the redevelopment of lower Cuba St, which will transform it into a mainly pedestrian area.
A single lane will allow traffic to travel north along lower Cuba St but the speed limit has been set at 10kmh.
Work is due to start in January and be finished by the end of July.
"The street will basically become a pedestrian zone and we now have a chance to make it a lively gateway to the bohemia further up Cuba St," Ms Prendergast said.
The lower Cuba redevelopment came after the council announced plans for Manners Mall to be ripped up for bus lanes, she said.
"Some of the submission around Manners Mall talked about the loss of space for young people ... this [street art] will be really attractive for young people."
Hosier Lane had become a "living and constantly changing art venue" that Wellington could match, Ms Prendergast said.
"Creativity with a spray can will be encouraged [in lower Cuba St], hopefully leading to much less graffiti elsewhere.
"It's edgy and controversial – and it certainly won't be to everyone's taste – but there's no doubt it will be hugely popular."
Writer: Dave Burgess