Cinemas, shopping, accommodation plan for Blackwood in Adelaide’s south
THE heart of Blackwood would be transformed under an ambitious, 30-year plan to revive the stagnating area in an era of online transactions.
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THE heart of Blackwood would be transformed with new shopping centres, cinemas, accommodation and more parking under an ambitious, 30-year plan to revive the stagnating area.
The Blackwood Business Network masterplan sets out potential improvements over the coming decades in the retail and dining precinct.
The business group hoped the as-yet-uncosted masterplan would be embraced by the wider community and, ultimately, Mitcham Council.
Blackwood Business Network president Jane Silbereisen said it was vital to come up with a cogent plan for the future of trade in the area.
“I knew from when I had my shop that trying to get foot traffic and having a viable business was a difficult and tricky situation up here,” said Ms Silbereisen, who used to own a furniture shop in Blackwood and has also served as a Mitcham councillor.
“I now understand everything that contributes to those issues – and the issue is that Blackwood initially was never planned.
“What we have now is a couple of shopping centres … but we still don’t have the fundamental infrastructure that consumers need and want to comfortably shop in the area.”
She said in the era of online transactions, people wanted physical shopping to be a one-stop experience.
For Blackwood to survive, it needed a wider range of traders.
“(People) can’t get everything they need up here,” Ms Silbereisen said.
“Consumer shopping habits are changing, so the critical thing is you have to incorporate all this infrastructure to attract people to an area so they not only shop there, but have their social occasions, meeting places and entertainment.”
Work on the masterplan started in 2012, when community consultation found people wanted more bars, entertainment venues such as theatres and markets and undercover parking.
Multiple council studies on Blackwood’s business district, conducted over the past 30 years, were also considered when creating the plan.
The HillsValley Weekly last year reported traders’ concerns over the future of the shopping precinct after longstanding business Blackwood Sound relocated to Marion.
At the time, traders identified a lack of foot traffic, high rents and a lack of investment in the district as key issues.
Mitcham Council recently revealed a plan to create a mini-mall on Young St, behind the Foodland shopping centre, which it hoped would help begin a commercial revival.
Mitcham Mayor Glenn Spear last week said while he had not yet seen the Blackwood Business Network masterplan, he welcomed “community input into planning for the future” of Mitcham.
View the plan: