Prominent Adelaide developer Theo Maras has added his voice to growing backlash against Adelaide City Council’s proposed $12 million revitalisation of Hutt St, warning that slashing carparking and limiting traffic will devastate local businesses and stifle CBD growth, according to The Advertiser.
“If you restrict the flow of traffic, you’re restricting the flow of people and that will do huge damage to business… because how are people going to get there?” Mr Maras said. “My view is ‘Don’t kill the city’. When you kill the city, you are creating a bad environment for people to live in the city.”
Plans under consideration include cutting on-street parking from 132 to 72 spaces and reducing Hutt St to one traffic lane each way. Business owners say that could reduce trade by up to 40 percent.
IGA owner Theo Vlassis called the changes “anti-business,” while shoe repairer Richard Libralato said he may be forced to relocate. “A lot of our clients are statewide… They won’t jump on a bike and come to Hutt St.”
While Mr Maras supports pedestrian-friendly upgrades for tourism, he warns they must not come at the expense of accessibility. “I’m all for gardens, parks and footpaths… but the most important amenity is traffic management, accessibility and carparking.”
He said people from the suburbs fuel the CBD economy. “All roads must lead to Adelaide – and then you need somewhere to park your car.”
Source: The Advertiser
