Creating Safer Streets: Emily Place

The Future of Emily Place

Twelve months later we are getting ready to embark on a long-term upgrade for this area through the Emily Place Improvements Project.

To help us in our planning, we would like to get your thoughts on what aspects of the Innovating Streets trial have worked well and what you would like to include in future Emily Place plans.

This information will help us in our long-term design plans for Emily Place to become a people focused, pedestrian friendly space. We will be at the Emily Place – Twilight Picnic on 30 July if you would like to give us your feedback or you can fill out the survey.

What the consultation was about

This consultation closed on 22 March 2022. Thank you for having your say.

Through a co-design approach, we consulted with the local community on 29 November 2020 and 20 January 2021 about how Emily Place could be transformed into a more pedestrian focused space. Using a tactical urbanism approach, the temporary installation transformed the street from a heavily vehicle dominated space into a more pedestrian-focused public realm.

The transformation acted as a trial to test how well the street functioned with one-way vehicular movement, reduced car parks, widened footpaths and a new central pedestrian plaza area.

The trial was installed in June/July 2021 and was part of the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s Innovating Streets Programme to be delivered by Auckland Council.

Results of the consultation

We surveyed people who live and work in the Emily Place community, and the results told us:

• 42% of people access Emily Place on foot
• 23% access it by car (and lots of people used a combination of more than two modes to get here.)
• 53% of people feel unsafe when they’re walking around - mostly for reasons relating to traffic and antisocial behaviour in the Reserve.

Specific ideas that emerged from the co-design sessions included

• ‘Extend’ Emily Reserve to the north
• Widen footpaths
• Provide extra space which can support community events
• Improve the pedestrian experience
• Calm traffic speeds and create a more predictable flow for the safety of other users

Key feedback themes

Three main themes were identified during this process -

• An Urban Oasis for current and future generations
• A place where the rich Heritage and Cultural History of this site can be celebrated and remembered
• A shared space, accessible and catering to the whole of the community

How we responded to your feedback

The project adapted these ideas and transformed Emily Place, creating a new pedestrian plaza, a new one-way traffic system and a wider footpath on the hill from Customs Street. Cultural artwork and a series of timber planters were installed to add visual interest, cultural references and greenery to the new space.

What happens next

Timeline - Emily Place Improvements Project

• August to December 2022: Investigation, concept design and community consultation
• 2023: Detail design and consenting
• 2024: Physical works