Botany Town Centre
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox shopping mall
| name = Botany Town Centre
| image = JPG Farmers Botany 2013.jpg
| image_width =
| caption =
| location = East Tāmaki, Auckland, New Zealand
| address = Corner Ti Rakau Drive and Chapel Road
| coordinates = {{coord|-36.933712|174.913167|region:NZ-AUK_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| opening_date = {{Start date and age|df=y|2001|5}}
| developer =
| manager = Dexus
| owner = Canadian interests [https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/112368521/botany-town-centre-unveils-the-first-stage-of-its-78m-redevelopment]
| architect =
| number_of_stores = 200+
| number_of_anchors = 5
| floor_area = {{cvt|62,700|sqm}}
| floors =
| parking = 2,535
| website = {{URL|botanytowncentre.co.nz}}
| footnotes =
}}
Botany Town Centre is a large shopping mall and lifestyle centre located in Auckland, New Zealand. It has more than 200 stores{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/101505840/botany-town-centre-starting-its-78m-expansion|accessdate=8 April 2019|title=Botany Town Centre starting its $78m expansion|date=18 February 2018|newspaper=Stuff.co.nz}} spread across three complexes, including restaurants and entertainment buildings such as cinemas. It is situated at the corner of Ti Rakau Drive and Chapel Road in the suburb of East Tāmaki, and was opened in 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0105/S00023.htm|accessdate=26 February 2017|title=Botany Town Centre Heralds Retail Future|date=3 May 2001|website=Scoop Independent News – scoop.co.nz}}{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/24188/botany-town-centre|accessdate=26 February 2017|title=Botany Town Centre|website=Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand }}
The centre has faced competition since the 2006 opening of the nearby Sylvia Park shopping centre in Mount Wellington, which was built as an enclosed mall. However, Botany Town Centre sees its town centre format as its strength, and considers that elements such as doctors' premises and a library make Botany more attractive.{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10473873 |title=Makeover of the shopping mall |author=South, Gill |date=4 November 2007 |work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=21 September 2011}}
History
In the years after it opened, Botany Town Centre won awards for its design. Meanwhile, Manukau City Council opened an "idealibrary" in the centre in 2004.{{Cite web |title=Fun the aim at Botany library - New Zealand News |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/fun-the-aim-at-botany-library/I25EB4I7ZXCJ7SZMO3IX6GO6W4/ |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}
In 2005, a Ministry for the Environment study of the town centre and surrounding suburbs found that the area lacked integrated land-use planning with an "incoherent mixture of conventional and medium-density housing." A planner said the "road-dominated environment to get to the nearby Botany Town Centre is not pedestrian friendly," while public transport had been "under-used and arguably inadequate in range and frequency of routes available" at the time.{{Cite web |date=2005-03-01 |title=Botany Downs - Manukau City |url=https://environment.govt.nz/publications/urban-design-case-studies/botany-downs-manukau-city/ |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=Ministry for the Environment |language=en-GB}} Others had criticised the centre for being a commercialised public space.{{Cite web |title=Down at the mall |url=https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/down-at-the-mall/ |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=New Zealand Geographic |language=en-NZ}}
In a 2008 rating of New Zealand shopping centres by a retail expert group, Botany Town Centre received three-and-a-half stars, just under the maximum rating of four stars, based on the criteria of amount of shopping area, economic performance, amenity and appeal as well as future growth prospects.{{citation |author=Gibson, Anne |title=From 'yahoo' to ho hum - how the shopping malls rate |publisher=The New Zealand Herald |date=2008-07-07 }}
On 2 May 2019, the first stage of a three-area redevelopment was opened. The redevelopment takes the centre's size to 62,700 square metres.{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/112368521/botany-town-centre-unveils-the-first-stage-of-its-78m-redevelopment|accessdate=2 May 2019|title=Botany Town Centre unveils the first stage of its $78m redevelopment|date=2 May 2019|newspaper=Stuff.co.nz}}
Transport
The mall is accessible via several high-frequency AT Metro bus services which depart from its bus interchange.{{Cite web |last=Transport |first=Auckland |title=New Network for East Auckland |url=https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/new-public-transport-network/new-network-for-east-auckland/ |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=Auckland Transport |language=en-nz}} During the day, buses on the 70 line run at least every 10 minutes towards Pakuranga, Panmure and the city centre. Meanwhile, buses run every 15 minutes towards Howick and Highland Park on the 72 bus line, towards Flat Bush and Manukau on the 35 bus line and towards Ōtara on the 31 bus line. Lower frequency services, usually every half hour, provide trips to Highbrook, Bucklands Beach, Half Moon Bay and Mission Heights.
Bike racks are also provided at several locations throughout Botany Town Centre.
= Future rapid transit integration =
In 2018, Auckland Transport began planning rapid public transport between Botany and Auckland Airport.{{cite news |last1=Harrowell |first1=Chris |date=15 September 2020 |title=Botany rapid transit busway project still on track |publisher=times.co.nz |agency=Howick Times |url=https://www.times.co.nz/news/botany-rapid-transit-busway-project-still-on-track/}} It is part of a wider programme to improve the transport system in South Auckland.{{cite news |date=13 October 2020 |title=Fast and direct transport connections to Auckland Airport take shape |publisher=Auckland Council |agency=Our Auckland |url=https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/articles/news/2020/10/fast-and-direct-transport-connections-to-auckland-airport-take-shape/}} A busway station is planned for the town centre, as the terminus for the Eastern Busway rapid transit link to Panmure railway station.{{cite news |date=26 March 2018 |title=Second stage of long-term Auckland Transport project to start this year |newspaper=Stuff.co.nz |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/eastern-courier/102560430/second-stage-of-longterm-auckland-transport-project-to-start-this-year |accessdate=7 December 2018}}
A busway connecting Botany to Auckland's central suburbs is due to be completed in 2027.{{cite news |date=10 August 2020 |title=Busway bridge launched over Tamaki River |publisher=Auckland Council |agency=Our Auckland |url=https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/articles/news/2020/08/busway-bridge-launched-over-tamaki-river/}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Botany Town Centre}}
- [http://www.botanytowncentre.co.nz/ Botany Town Centre official website]
- [https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/search/searchterm/Botany%20town%20centre Photographs of Botany Town Centre] held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections.
{{Shopping centres in New Zealand}}
{{Howick Local Board Area}}
Category:Shopping centres in the Auckland Region
Category:Buildings and structures in Auckland