Plan to reinvigorate J’ville Mall

By Frank Neill

The Johnsonville Mall manager, Stride Property Group, is currently developing provisional plan it believes will “reinvigorate the Johnsonville precinct”.

Stride is not, however, in a position where it can reveal details of its plan.

“Our development team continues to work through several options and liaise with the local and regional council,” says Stride’s General Manager Retail, Roy Stansfield.

“These include provisional plans for a multi-use development that we believe will reinvigorate the Johnsonville precinct.

“As we are continuing to actively liaise with Wellington City Council’s district planning team, which we hope will set the appropriate framework in place for our future development at Johnsonville Shopping Centre, we are unfortunately unable to offer any further detailed updates at this stage.

“However, we look forward to sharing more information with the community when it becomes available,” Mr Stansfield says.

hariu MP Geg O’Connor told the “Independent Herald” he has been putting “considerable pressure” on Stride “to get the development under way, and I will continue to do this.

“I am in constant contact with them and have been for the last six years, and that includes meeting with the chair of the board.”

Stride has, Mr O’Connor says, “spent a considerable amount of money on consultants in planning and that has given me some confidence that work will go ahead”.

As well as being in frequent contact with Stride “I will also stay in close contact with the Councillors and others who are looking for the shopping centre to become what it needs to be –which is the centre of shopping in the northern suburbs.

“As a frequent mall user myself, I share the frustration of locals as

Companion walking

Age Concern Wellington is looking for volunteers in Karori, Johnsonville and Tawa for its Companion Walking Service.

For more information visit https:// www.acwellington.org.nz/volunteering/.

Age Concern is also looking for a new Companion Walking Service Co-ordinator.

The Companion Walking Service was developed by Age Concern Wellington Region in 2019 and has since helped many seniors who are struggling with isolation and loneliness.

The co-ordinator oversees the continued development and running of this service in Wellington and Porirua. For more information email admin assistant@acwellington.org.nz.

Staying safe

A Staying Safe class for older drivers will be held at the Khandallah Community Centre from 10am to 2pm on 16 August.

Lunch will be provided at the event, which is a free classroom-based refresher workshop for senior road users. To register and for more information ring 499 6648.

they see the continued closure of shops [in the Johnsonville Mall]. “I am determined to get the shopping centre we need,” Mr O’Connor says.

The Johnsonville Shopping Centre is part of Stride Property Ltd’s portfolio and is owned 50/50 with Diversified NZ Property Trust, and managed by Stride Investment Management Ltd.

Stride Property Group is comprised of Stride Property Ltd and Stride Investment Management Ltd and is listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange. Almost half of Stride Property Ltd’s commercial property is shopping centres.