‘Tiny village’ builds on big hopes for Linwood

Plans are under way to create a tiny village within the Linwood Village commercial area.

In conjunction with Greening the Rubble and Te Whare Roimata, the Christchurch City Council is developing a Stanmore Road site that will host up to seven “tiny shops”.

Up to seven 'tiny shops' will be housed on the Stanmore Road site.

The shops will be available free for use to the local community, encouraging small-scale businesses, arts and crafts, and music and creativity groups to set up at the site.

Community development organisation Te Whare Roimata has been working within the Linwood area to “activate” the site, seeking out small start-ups and local groups to fill the shops.

Supported by the Council’s Enliven Places Programme, the tiny village is an important step in the area’s regeneration.

“We want to ensure that these shops are unique and personal to Linwood residents,” the Council’s Head of Urban Design, Regeneration and Heritage, Carolyn Ingles, says.

“Our approach to the tiny village is simple: ‘Made – or developed – by locals for locals.’ We want to showcase just what can be achieved through collaboration and a resourceful approach.

“We also hope that this project provides a prototype for capacity building within a community.

“By building something special to Linwood that is high quality and includes upcycled and recycled assets, the tiny village promotes revitalisation and resurgence.”

The shops are being built off-site – in part utilising excess timber from the Woods Mill restoration project in Addington – before being moved to Linwood, where the community can help paint and personalise each shop. Local residents are also involved in the construction phase.

The existing community garden, along with Kua Hua Ake Te Ao Community Cafe, a play space and stage will complete the area.

Greening the Rubble is working with industry partners Schick Civil Construction, Centraus Structural Consulting and Co Lab on the site development and building work.

Construction is expected to be completed by April.

Anyone interested in setting up a start-up or small business in the Linwood tiny village can contact Jenny or Jamie at Te Whare Roimata on 03 379 5134.

Anyone wanting to work with Greening the Rubble on site landscaping and construction can contact coordinator@greeningtherubble.org or visit greeningtherubble.org.nz.