Tauranga City Council plans to convert the Mount's Phoenix carpark into a commercial centre are best ignored because the pros and cons of this minefield will ensure the council never gets the equation right on private and public developments.
Of even more concern is Bain McDonald and others plan to turn carpark into a passive green space and transfer the public parking 500 metres out to the old Mount Bowling Club land at Nikau Crescent, which is so ridiculous it defies belief. Get off ‘the grass' noddies. Go check out Coronation Park (currently being slashed and trashed by TCC), Banks Ave, May St, Marine Parade, PilotBay and Mount Drury reserves, which are all within 200 metres of the carpark and fit for the purposes being espoused and readily accessible to the public.
Mount Mainstreet and the editorials are remiss in not doing their homework and encouraging this sort of daydreaming.
From memory, Mcdonald interests developed the commercial building behind Mainstreet adjoining Phoenix carpark and the large development at 17 Banks Ave end of Shadelands Lane.
Both developments sporting significant on-site parking shortfalls.

S Paterson, Arataki.