Tauranga CBD: Grey St building used by The Importer being bought by council for laneway – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

A CBD building is set to be knocked down to create a proposed laneway between Grey and Durham Sts.

Furniture and homewares store The Importer, formerly at 79 Grey St, has moved to Mount Maunganui and Tauranga City Council intends to demolish the building to improve pedestrian and cycle connections and accessibility within the city centre’s retail precinct.

The Importer is consolidating its business to its Tawa St store. Its owner has been approached for comment.

Commission chairwoman Anne Tolley told the Bay of Plenty Times the council has an agreement to buy 79 Grey St.

Building the laneway was a “priority action” for the Knowledge and Retail Precincts, as defined in the City Centre Action and Investment Plan, Tolley said.

“The laneway will support pedestrian connections between the retail precinct of Grey St, the University of Waikato and the future public transport spine. Apart from providing better connections between these key city centre assets, it’s also intended that in the short-term, this area would serve as a pop-up green space or carpark.”

“We’re in the early stages of planning for this site, and we’ll share more details with the community once settlement is complete.”

Neighbouring Paw and Partners canine innovative fashion store owner Scott Brownsaid he was disappointed to see any business move from the city centre.