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Hornsby Council’s Asquith Housing Strategy; a quality Shopping Village...?
From: RETAiL Alert Group Tony Standley [mailto:info@adsass.com.au]
Sent: 29 March 2009 14:19
To: 'editor@hornsbyadvocate.com.au'
Subject: ..we are supportive in general principal, of Hornsby Council’s Asquith Housing Strategy; a quality Shopping Village promoting new, independent Asquith small retail and restaurant businesses?
To the Editor
The Hornsby Advocate
Dear Sir,
There is no doubt that Asquith needs some quality development and we are supportive in general principal, of Hornsby Council’s Asquith Housing Strategy.
Out of the proposed Housing Strategy there is an opportunity for Asquith residents to demand a quality Shopping Village promoting new, independent Asquith small retail and restaurant businesses.
As residents we do not enjoy having to battle read more
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Comment 1 30 Mar 2009, 7:58 PM
Very well put. I agree
Comment 2 31 Mar 2009, 4:32 PM
The proposed Housing Strategy is for 992 new dwellings for Asquith. Existing dwellings are roughly around 1200, so the increase represents around 80% on current levels. This is hardly the few mid rise developments you mention and will have a devastating impact on our village and way of life.
Both the F3 freeway and the proposed Housing Strategy have significant effects on Asquith traffic. The F3 decreases it whereas the Housing Strategy will increase it (and also the volume of shoppers, which benefits shop owners like yourselves). By almost doubling current density, the Housing Strategy will be bring the battle you more…
Comment 3 1 Apr 2009, 10:41 PM
I would like to add that eventhough you raise some good points, the rezoning will not have much of an impact to Queens Road (where you live). You will not face the possibility of a 5 or 3 storey apartment block on your street. For those who face that possibility it is a bitter pill to swallow.
I would think that most residents in Asquith would like to see the shopping precinct transformed.
Comment 4 2 Apr 2009, 8:28 AM
This thread seems to have a bit of vested interest to it - RETAIL Alert Group!. I agree with UAW. Queens Rd is not affected. There appear to be other possible beneficiaries of future development in Hornsby shire living in Queens Rd.
Comment 5 6 Apr 2009, 3:20 PM
I notice no one is appalled by the Normanhurst shops, which aren’t too flash either. You know why? The residents there plan to keep them small since they realise expansion will affect their status as a neighbourhood centre, giving all the more reason for further highrise development, possibly attracting the interest of larger chain stores such as Aldi and Bunnigs . More shops need more people to provide custom, which in turn needs more dwellings. This is what Waitara provides Hornsby Westfield, a large local customer base to fuel the retail machine.
Take a look at the comments below from the more…
Comment 6 16 Apr 2009, 11:41 PM
Nothing proposed in the Strategy should be feared? Nothing?
Tony and Dianne Standley,
What makes you both so confident to make such a sweeping statement? Do you really think the strategy is perfect in everyway, beneficial to every area, an improvement everywhere, not just Asquith?
Please elaborate, precinct by precinct.
Thank you
Comment 6.1 17 Apr 2009, 5:22 PM
of course they have little to fear - not much chance of Queens Road having 5 storeys built next door - one side of you is golf course, which I can't see changing anytime soon
Comment 6.1.1 17 Apr 2009, 5:33 PM
Removed by moderator due to irrelevance.
Comment 7 22 Apr 2009, 9:06 PM
Having access to a shiny new cafe or veggie shop in Asquith is not much compensation if you're one of the unlucky homeowners that will have to look out of their bedroom window at a five storey housing development each morning, is it?
Comment 8 26 May 2009, 2:40 AM
What would you like to see in a redeveloped Asquith Shopping Centre.
Personally I'd like to see some of those shops and services we've lost come back
- bank, video store, pizza place, pet shop (maybe)
And with some decent presentable shops and offices, why not
- a physio, a dentist
- legal services,
- serviced offices for local "home office" businesses to move out of home, but stay local.
- more specialist shops - model trains, crafts
- Local branch library
- Community Centre, with easy access for use by all the community
- childcare, public play space
and of course, some alfresco ding, cafe's etc!
And better premises for those businesses that have stuck it out in Asquith.
Comment 8.1 26 May 2009, 8:26 AM
The Asquith shops were approved multi storey over 4 years ago. They cannot be included in the Strategy since they are already approved.
Comment 8.1.1 26 May 2009, 12:51 PM
Why the delay in building?
Comment 8.1.1.1 26 May 2009, 3:13 PM
Who is going to invest in building a set of decent shops for a suburb that is slowly aging, decaying and dying ?
But, with new investment in new housing, close to the shops, then there might be some renewed interest.
All depending on the willingness of the current owners to sell, of course.
Comment 8.1.1.1.1 26 May 2009, 3:23 PM
Richard, I went for a drive around Asquith and Mt Colah a couple of weeks ago and saw that there are quite number of homes that have been newly renovated and extended and also many that were newly built plus others that are in the process of being built. To me this doesn't look like decay. What does look decayed is the commercial strip and that may be one reason that people don't go there to shop as much as they would if it was attractive and had an interesting array of shops.
Comment 8.1.1.1.1.1 28 May 2009, 2:07 AM
I don't have the demographics, but having lived in Asquith for 18+ years, and my observation is that the average age of the population has gone up significantly in that time. And that investment in property improvement is much lower than in many other suburbs, even those of a similar age.
An aging population and an unimproving housing stock generally lead to a lot less custom for retail. And actually a reduction in population, as the percentage of empty nesters goes up.
On the other hand, it can lead to greater need for services. But not many professionals relying on customer visits are going to base their business in that junky mess of shops.
Comment 9 28 May 2009, 1:34 AM
I have put a number of submissions to the council.
I share these with people for discussion, on a Wiki website www.hornsby.wetpaint.com. On this wiki website, if you join up, you can add your own pages and discussion too.
You don’t need to join up to view.
Look forward to your comments and contributions.
Richard Boult
RB1 - Asquith Shopping Centre – Council can and must be Pro-Active
RB2 - Suggested traffic control for junction of Amor St, Pacific Hwy, bridge ramp north
RB3 - Amelioration of increased Valuation and Rates problem.
http://hornsby.wetpaint.com/page/RB3+-+Amelioration+of+increased+Valuation+and+Rates+problem.
RB4 - Draft 5 Storey Guidelines - Comments & Suggestions
http://hornsby.wetpaint.com/page/RB4+-+Draft+5+Storey+Guidelines+-+Comments+%26+Suggestions
RB5 - Amelioration of Impact for some Asquith precincts
http://hornsby.wetpaint.com/page/RB5+-+Amelioration+of+Impact+for+some+Asquith+precincts
RB6 - Additional Areas for Development, and some removals
http://hornsby.wetpaint.com/page/RB6+-+Additional+Areas+for+Development%2C+and+some+removals
Comment 10 30 May 2009, 2:49 PM
I checked out the Asquith shops on Friday. From south to north:
* Elders Real Estate.
* Commonwealth ATM
* Home Brewing supplies.
* Lifeline Furniture
* Dance Away dance supplies
* Majestic Gardens Landscaping
* Sue Edwards Real Estate
* Vision Hair Design.
* Asquith Dry Cleaning.
* Louie’s Chinese Restaurant.
* Asquith Meat Market (Butcher, not the other)
* Douglass pathology
* Lifeline books, clothes
* Newsagent
* Pacific Café, eat in.
* Asquith Bakery
* Oasis Hair Design
* Aquariums Asquith
* Indian Restaurant.
* Marino’s Mens hairdressing.
* Upbeat Music & Tuition
* Wynston Blinds & Doors
* Asquith Gourmet Chickens & Salads, eat in.
* L Aurora Function Centre
* Curves Fitness
* Bibles for Missions, Op Shop.
* Thai Jumpa Restaurant.
* Italian Pasta and Pizza.
* Asquith Medical Centre
* Sacred Grounds Coffee Shop, inside and outside dining.
In addition, within walking distance:
* Post Office, directly opposite shopping centre in Amor St.
* KFC, directly opposite shops on Pacific Hwy.
* Dentists on Pacific Hwy, 100m south of shops.
* Vets on pacific Hwy, around 150m south of shops.
* Child Care Centre, on Pacific Hwy 200m north of shops.
Comment 10.1 13 Jun 2009, 9:04 PM
Are the Coles supermarket and pharmacy included on your list. The last thing we need are phone shops or electrical retailers in Asquith. As soon as the shopping centre is redeveloped it will be an open invitation for developers and high rise just to fund it. Don't think for one minute that a redeveloped centre will be for the use of Asquith residents alone.
Yes clean up the place especially around the back in Wattle Lane, but keep it small.
Comment 10.1.1 14 Jun 2009, 11:49 AM
Yes, thanks for picking this up Mooy. I didn't include Coles or pharmacy on the list.
I agree with cleaning it up but keeping it small. I think if some of the old signage were removed and air conditioners recessed / relocated and the facades at the front done up it would look a lot better. The facades of each shop are all different sizes and with different colour schemes to suit the character of the area it could look quite interesting, maybe even a bit rustic.
Rennovate rather than detonate.
Comment 11 17 Jul 2009, 10:20 AM
I have lived in Asquith for the last 22 years and my wife for (if she'll pardon me) over 45 years.
We've brought up our family here and our children have happily attended the local Schools.
What a lot of you are saying is correct but in my opinion we need to get away from the idea of change purely for the sake of change and realise that yes change is for the most part inevitable and we as residents and ratepayers are entitled to have our say about what kind of change we want and have our say valued.
I have done more…