In 2006, a group of Darlington shop owners met to talk about
ways to improve the Darlington shopping strip
and came up with a 10-point plan:
- Night
lighting along the shop fronts in Lawson and Abercrombie Streets - Greening of
the Sydney University perimeter - Over-bridge
access between Wilson Street
and the Aust Technology Park - Maintenance
of the Redfern West/Darlington area, primarily as revitalised residential area
with appropriate commercial amenities, such as improved hotel presentation - Improved
shop-front presentation, pathway development and improved commercial premises - Appropriate
placement of public health facilities - Darlington Fair – proposed. Sydney Council to provide insurance coverage for
public liability - Redfern/Chippendale
historical walking tours - South of
city galleries and coffee walking tours - Produce
markets in the Rail Workshops/Technology Park area a la Piermont, Homebush Bay, Fox Studios and Blackheath.
Most of the 10-point plan seems to have been included in the
City’s Local Action Plan (see online) and marked for starting in the short
term.
Andrew Packham, the owner of the Darlington Newsagency told
the SSH: “Darlington is an interesting and
vibrant shopping strip with much potential. The City of Sydney Council would be well advised to
commence improvements to the footpaths and general lighting, as a matter of
urgency. Convening a meeting of the business owners to discuss the
individualisation of the Darlington
Village shops would also
be beneficial.”
Andrew Packham went on to say: “Probably the most concerning
of all the issues facing the shopping strip are mooted proposals to re-route
foot traffic and perhaps bypass the Shopping
Village from a changed
exit at Redfern Station.” All the other businesses that the SSH consulted
agreed.
The NSW State Cabinet will soon sign off on proposals for
Redfern Station. Then the plans will come back to the community for comment.
The SSH has been told that the economic future of the shopping strip has been
taken into consideration.
Photo: Ali Blogg: A view along Abercrombie Street, Darlington
Source: South Sydney Herald December 2007 www.southsydneyherald.com.au/