ROPŌ and Creative Us adding to safer street feel

Friday saw the official opening of Creative “Us.” at 167 Thames Street, one of the first projects supported by the Revitalising Our Places Ōamaru (ROPO) programme for the CBD.

With Creative “Us.”, Street Style and the soon to be opening Waste Free Waitaki pop-up, these vacant spaces are now providing an outlet for Waitaki’s creative community, and adding vibrancy to Thames Street.

Waitaki District Council’s placemaking lead Cyndi Christensen said: “We match creative projects and people to empty storefronts. It’s amazing how much difference a window clean and a lit window can make to the street. I’m so pleased, we’ve got 179, 167 and 149 Thames Street occupied right now. There are four spaces remaining and we’d love to hear from anyone interested in a 30-day residency”

Colette O’Kane of Creative “Us.” said: “One of the the things that has been expressed to us is how pleased people are by the colour and vibrancy, but the unexpected one has been to hear that people feel safer on the street, that seeing these places filling up with light and colour is so lovely”

The Revitalise Our Places Ōamaru programme will run for six months from June, and is part of the wider Ōamaru CBD revitalisation project.