There would be far less problems in the world today if people were more open and honest with each other. So many decisions are made behind closed doors only because they know their decisions will hurt others. When I decided to attempt to bring together a group of people to explore the posibility of building a major shopping mall in Timaru I could of negotiated with the property owners first and then surprised the tennants after a deal was done which is normal practice. However I chose not to do that but instead I’m spreading the word and telling everyone what I am doing so there will be no surprises. I’m expecting some flack but that’s the price I’m willing to pay because I know that what I’m doing is right and will benefit so many other people. The following is my first public news letter on the subject.
Dear Southend Business Owners & Staff
Proposed Theatre Royal Shopping Mall
I was out on Stafford Street the other morning taking some photos for my new publication that will be out soon promoting a new shopping mall that my company proposes to see built on the block of land surrounding the Theatre Royal. I got a shock of my life when one of the business owners came out of his shop and abused me and told me that him and his mates were taking up donations to send me back to the North Island where I came from. Could it be that there is more than one person in the Southend that is upset because I want to tidy the place up. If so I will try and give an explanation about what I am trying to do and why I’m doing it.
Timaru Directory – www.timarudirectory.co.nz
The Timaru directory website is one of the fastest growing websites in the country with over 10,000 monthly visits and 100,000 hits a month and there are several reasons why it is so popular. It has 6 online business phone books linking Canterbury, Otago and Southland making businesses easily found on google.
Most Timaru businesses are listed in it and many of us use it all the time because it is quicker to find a phone number than looking for a hard copy phone book or searching online in white or yellow pages. The other reason the website is so popular is because all the controversial stuff I once wrote as a letter to the Timaru Herald I now write on my blog www.timarudirectory.co.nz./news. We have temporally suspended taking on any more new businesses and are now using the Timaru Directory website to promote the things that will attract visitors to the town. If Timaru is to grow and prosper it must build things for tourists to enjoy which includes modern day shopping.
Show Grounds Development
There is concern amongst many retailers in the downtown shopping area that any development at the show grounds will kill the central city area. Lets face it, the development north is always going to happen and the only way to protect the downtown area from losing business is to improve on what we have to offer. Like it or not this means cleaning up the Southend and offering something better.
Southend Shopping Mall
Yes I do realise that many in the Southend are upset at me expecting them to leave their comfort zone for a while but I can assure you that what we are doing will not only benefit you in the long term but all of the South Canterbury district for generations to come. Lets face it, the state of some of the buildings in the Southend of Stafford Street are a disgrace and someone has to take some action to clean them up. If it means me getting abused by tenants and landlords in the area then so be it that is a price I am willing to pay for the rest of us who want to live in a town we can be proud of.
Joint ownership
The shopping mall we propose will be different to any other shopping mall in the country in that it will be owned by the present landlords, the tenants and the general public ensuring that wherever possible all revenue and profits remain in South Canterbury. The role of Timaru Tourist Promotions Ltd is not that of property speculation or developers we are simply coordinators and promoters of the shopping mall concept and our only income comes from donations used to cover the cost of the feasibility study and its management.
Send us a donation
If you would like to see something happen in the Southend of Stafford Street then send us a donation so we can get the ball rolling and make it happen. We can only do this together so lets all sacrifice a little bit now to gain a bigger bit in the future.
Merry Christmas to you and your families and lets all seek a prosperous new year as we plan together for a brighter looking future in the southern end of the City we all love.
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