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June 10, 2003
The new City Council under Mayor Harbison has nailed its reforms to the more cars in the city agenda. Under the new urban regime proposals to close off Victoria Square to cars have been defeated; the city now markets itself as place to shop in opposition to the suburbs by building more car parks to attract more cars. And law and order will deal with the homeless and street kids. Its a traditional regime of economic development and growth with its mentality of more development is better and the city as a growth machine.
Bits of the old middle class progressive or quality of life regime do remain. Developers are moving ahead with projects to attract more people to live in the city and they are talking about the revival of real communities by owner occupiers. Nothing about sustainable communities. However, the vision of a world-leading urban design that will preserve the heritage area and create a vibrant, liveable city has been replaced by a return to living in the 70s. Cars cars and more cars. Its dumb growth.
The conception of Victoria Square as a usable public space with a civic focus has given way to it remaining a roundabout so that cars can drive through the city. Adelaide as a people-oriented city has been put aside yet again.
What you don't hear being taken seriously is Adelaide as a sustainable city There is little interest in improving air quality, protecting its water resources and water shed, recycling storm water etc. Smart eco-growth is an alien concept. Sustainability alienates the business community in the CBD.
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Hard to tell- most people avoid the CBD anyway as they can get everything done easier at the local Westfield already. The only time I've been in the city this year is to visit the hospital, and to see you.
The City is pretty unattractive as a place to live compared to Burnside, Toorak and places like that so they are going to have their work cut out to attract the high-income people that would make it worthwhile. The thing in the City's favor is that they can offer apartments which is what the childfree power-couples of today want.