CLEVELAND residents took to social media to voice their opinions on how to rejuvenate the CBD.
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This comes after Cr Peter Mitchell asked council to look at improving Redlands city centres, including revitalising Cleveland, in the next budget.
The debate took off on the Redland City Bulletin Facebook page with total of 344 comments
Some residents are calling for a total revamp of the town with others branding it dull, empty and lifeless
Laura Armstrong: "Yep, it definitely has gone downhill in the 25 years I've lived here. The biggest issues I see blocking its success is lack of all-day car parking, not enough focus on tourism and a need to redevelop Bloomfield Street area so that it attracts quality tenants".
Sue Holt: "Empty shops, rents too high, DUH, drop the rental drastically (something is better than nothing) lease these empty shops to young entrepreneurs selling their creations or to the 'arty groups' to encourage people to wander and explore. Look around the pubs and clubs in daytime, seniors are the spenders and boy we have lots in the Redlands".
Tim Whittle: "It is on life support, but previous attempts at recovery have been haphazard, though ideas have been good. Cleveland needs an integrated plan. It can't have that until Toondah is settled. All the argy-bargy over that is simply holding everything else back".
Amanda Burrett: "We need more support services and we need more support for small business to grow".
Betty Walker : "Twenty years ago, Cleveland CBD had an old-fashioned seaside village feel about it, one of the reasons we liked it and moved here. Wellington Point Village is doing really well, maintaining that same vibe. Let Capalaba be the commercial hub, Victoria Point the planning disaster it is, and as someone else said, Cleveland the professional centre. Go back to what Cleveland has always been - a seaside destination for day visitors from Brisbane".
Anne-Marie Flynn: "Cleveland is old and grungy and so dated. Nothing appealing to draw you there. Drop the rents, entice good quality cafes, new shops. And definitely free car parking. Nothing to entice you. Needs a revamp to rejuvenate it and make it relevant".
Council candidates, Callen Sorensen Karklis and Irene Henley chimed in on the debate voicing their views on the project.
Callen Sorensen Karklis said people wanted to feel safe and secure while shopping and exploring the suburb.
"What locals and businesses are telling me is they want CCTV systems installed across the heart of Cleveland primarily in the CBD to curb any potential crime," he said.
Mr Sorensen Karklis said CCTV could be rolled out by council and they could explore options with the police and the state government to make this a reality.
"The Cleveland CBD is struggling and needs a boost, but CCTV and better street lighting, improved car spacing, parkways and footpaths is a great start to improving an area.
"There is an increasing crime issue in Cleveland, and people fear that if we overdevelop without improving our CBD we will soon become a lighter version of the Gold Coast in the years to come," Mr Sorensen Karklis said.
Candidate Irene Henley said: "The CBD is referred to by some as dying and experiencing a downward cycle of poor business turnover with many shop fronts left vacant. This decline has been clearly seen by most in the community for many years now. Yet the feedback I have received is that council has promised to take action and has unfortunately under delivered over the past few years".
Ms Henley said that she thought revitalising the CBD was a step in the right direction, but held concerns over how genuine the consultation process would be and whether the plan would be taken seriously.
"Council has had four years to take action and announce a plan to address the struggling Cleveland CBD, but they have waited until six weeks before an election. I can't help but feel that this announcement has been made purely for election reasons to win votes and make the appearance of council being proactive.
"We need our CBD to be strong, as it is the heart of Redlands. It needs to be a destination for visitors and locals. Cleveland is losing out to other destinations like the shopping precinct in Victoria Point, and we need to capitalise on the opportunity our Cleveland CBD presents to our city and community," Ms Henley said.
