The City of Sydney is asking for community feedback on its proposed $32 million transformation of Crown Street in Surry Hills, part of plans to make city streets greener and safer while creating new opportunities for local businesses.
If endorsed, this extensive transformation – which will take place between Devonshire and Oxford Streets – will start next year, creating more space for walking, outdoor dining and socialising.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City of Sydney is creating world-class streets that will become destinations and enjoyed by generations to come.
“We’re working hard to improve our streets and public spaces to make them more inviting and sustainable for our residents, visitors and workers,” the Lord Mayor said.
“As we strive to create an environment to support our pandemic recovery efforts, local businesses are being given an environment that people want to visit, to come together, be entertained and be inspired.”
“We can clearly see the enormous benefit that creating calmer, safer streets, wider footpaths and planting new trees and garden beds have for local communities.”
The City of Sydney is consulting with local businesses and residents to develop the best design for the area and the Crown Street plans have been warmly welcomed by local businesses.
Lachie Thompson from The Winery said the upgrades had the potential to transform the area which would benefit local business.
“I would love to see a bit more al fresco dining, a bit more greenery, just so people have the ability to hang out and to make the whole area more of a destination,” Mr Thompson said.
“It could encourage people to come here, not to just do one thing, but to say, ‘Hey, we can go to Crown Street, maybe we’ll grab a coffee, maybe we’ll grab a few drinks.’
“We’ve been constantly adapting since Covid and trying to find our new normal. I definitely think these public spaces can have a positive benefit for business.”
The street improvements will include:
- wider footpaths, new paving and intersection enhancements to provide more space for people walking
- LEDs on multifunction smart poles
- improved street furniture, like bubblers, benches, bins and bike racks
- new garden beds along the streets
- more street trees to boost canopy cover by 50 per cent.
The City of Sydney is committed to improving and modernising local streets across the LGA. In the past 12 months, it has completed 34 footway upgrades in Glebe, Beaconsfield, Newtown, Waterloo, Glebe, Alexandria, Surry Hills, Centennial Park, Pyrmont and upgraded footpaths along Elizabeth Street and Sussex Street in the city centre.
The six-block refurbishment of Macleay Street Potts Point is almost complete, and consultation for the Crown Street upgrade is now underway.
The consultation period for the Crown Street plans will run from 8 August to 19 September. Lord Mayor Clover Moore will also be attending a community pop-up event on 27 August at Shannon Reserve.
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