The 2013 Census results showed very strong population growth in Auckland’s city centre. The four census area units of Auckland Harbourside, Auckland Central West, Auckland Central East and Newton grew from 19,116 usual residents in 2006 to just under 28,000 in the 2013 census. However, the number of people under 15 years of age living in these four census area units is still pretty low – with only 1,068 being recorded in the 2013 census – just 3.8% of the population. This is far below the proportion of under 15s across the whole of Auckland, which sits at 21%.

young-population-cbd

This situation is not unusual internationally, with many cities struggling to attract families with children to live in their downtown cores. The reasons for this are – to some extent – fair obvious: a lack of schools, a lack of space for outdoors play (at least private space) and I imagine a bit of remaining stigma around downtown as an appropriate place to raise children.

Yet there are good reasons why we should want families with children to live in the city centre. Strong communities need a wide variety of residents, people downtown have a huge active transport modeshare to work and therefore take pressure off the transport network, people and families living in the city centre give it a liveliness that continues 7 days a week, not just in business hours. But how can families with kids be attracted to living in a part of the city which seems so unusual and (to some) seeming unnatural?

Vancouver is an excellent model here, as over 5,000 kids now live in their downtown and the proportion of the downtown population that is under 15 is on the up:

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The CityLab article linked to above explores some of the deliberate steps Vancouver has taken to increase the downtown area’s attractiveness for families with kids:

Units: For starters, Vancouver required developers to set aside of share of high-density housing units for families—typically 25 percent, according to Langston. That means at least two bedrooms, one of which should have play space for toddlers designed into it. (Oh, and thick, thick walls.) Since families might not want to live on the 16th floor, the city suggested grouping family units closer to street level, often in multilevel townhouse-type structures that form the base of more traditional residential towers. This ground-level clustering makes coming and going easier and gives children peers in neighboring units.

Buildings: Family-friendly buildings need a few architectural quirks that towers for singles might not: bulk storage space for things like strollers or toys, better nighttime lighting in common areas, corridors that can fit a tricycle. They also need secure, safe play spaces—ideally ones that can be seen from inside the units or from a designated supervision area. The spaces should maximize sunlight and be made to withstand “the rough and tumble of children’s play,” according to Vancouver’s guidelines. You have to love a government document with lines like this: “Opportunities for water and sand play are especially important.”

Surrounding areas: Vancouver also realized that not all parts of the city were as family-friendly as others. It instructed developers to choose sites within half a mile of elementary schools, daycare centers, and grocery stores, and within a quarter mile of transit stops. Safe walking routes—ideally separated from high-traffic arterials—were also important. Langston writes that the city went a step further and actually required some developers to build or fund community facilities (such as daycare centers or parks) if none already existed, and even to designate sites for schools.

It seems like creating a more family-friendly city centre requires a number of pretty active interventions on behalf of the Council. Partly through its investments in public realm improvements, safe walking routes and community facilities but perhaps more so through clever regulations and incentives for developers to provide housing typologies and facilities themselves which attract a wider range of households to the area.

Streets safer for kids to play – Photo by oh.yes.melbourne

The city centre part of the Unitary Plan contains some provision for bonus floor area provisions – based around heritage protection, encouraging residential dwellings, public open space, artworks and through-site links. Perhaps, to truly encourage families with children into the city centre these rules over time need to be further expanded to deal with issues such as the provision of childcare or other family-focused facilities.

The Ministry of Education also need to raise their game by providing a Primary School within the city centre, which along with the City Centre Master Plan‘s vision of a people-focused city centre would go a long way towards increasing the diversity of the population and really bringing families and kids into the heart of Auckland.

Kid Playing
Wynyard is one of the few places designed to let kids play in the city – Photo by oh.yes.melbourne
Wynyard - Kids Playing
Wynyard includes lots of family friendly features – Photo by Patrick Reynolds
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23 comments

  1. I am sure we can learn a lot from how overseas cities manage to locate schools in downtown areas. It’ll probably be quite different to what we’re used to, but could be exciting to see how a downtown school would work.

  2. I have always lived in the city since I came to NZ. But after my son was born it became apparent that Auckland city is extremely hostile for families, to the point that we had to move out to a central suburb when he was 5 months old. Missing pedestrian crossings, deadly sliplanes, broken footpaths, red light runners, baby unfriendly bars (was rejected entry in a bar a Sunday afternoon in Britomart because my 3 months old son was under the age?!?!?), and then childcare options and such. Also, storage in the apartment was minimal, especially for the pram.

  3. I read the article in city lab and thought that’s exactly what Auckland needs. Developers of townhouses and apartments even outside of the central city should make allowances for safe child play areas off driveways.

    I do notice how much more vibrant the central city seems now with young kids down their with their mums and dads. It’s how a city should be geared for all people.

  4. I really like the Wynyard Quarter family area and it’s always good to see it full of parents with children. However, isn’t there a longer term plan to bowl it for future apartments or offices?

    Is this still on the books and is there any way it can be stopped?

  5. There are no, virtually no other child focussed parks in the CBD. The only one I know of is Myers Park amongst the condoms and the syringes. I guess you could include Vic Park as CBD but it’s not really handy to Queen St. Why doesn’t Albert Park have some swings? Aotea Square? A ride on animal and bucket fountain for Elliot St like Cuba St in Wellington?

    1. There really isn’t anything wrong with Myers Park except a reputation, walked through their daily and never saw a syringe or condom.

      Anyway, my vote is for Aotea Square, right on the side between the grass and the square proper. While we are at it let’s stick a beer garden alongside. One of the best things about Europe is how the families interact in the city, dad playing with the kids a few paces from mum and auntie having a drink and a nibble in the sun.

  6. The other positive about children in the city is that it moderates the behaviour of adults. Even drunks are circumspect of swearing in front of toddlers

  7. Greater Vancouver population is 2.4million. Assuming like Auckland 20% are under 15 that is 480,000 kids. The fact that inner city kid numbers have increased to 5000 is only relevant to a wealthy elite. 99% of kids are in families that cannot afford the luxury of inner city living.

    1. It may well be a small proportion of Vancouver, Brendon, but that’s a bit unfair with the “wealthy elite” and “luxury” stuff. This is a pretty neat post suggesting some small, but potentially important, improvements to the way we think about providing for families with children in the central city. I can’t see why anyone would be against that, even if they might personally prefer to raise kids in the suburbs instead. As for me, I’d love to be able to stay in the city when I have kids, and there’s a good chance I will do.

    2. The difference between auckland Vancouver is not actually that great ( 5 and 3.8 %)

      The area this study defines as “downtown” are the Downtown and West End census neighbourhoods, In 2011 these had a total population of more of less 100,000, so 5000 kids is about 5%, now as Matt says Auckland’s is 3.8%,
      ( as an aside it would be interesting to look at where the growth in vancouver kids were, the West end neighbourhoods total population was relatively static@ 44K, while downtown pretty doubled from around 25K to around 55K)

      Accoording to another website, 1,840 of the kids in downtown Vancouver are 0-4 so there is a huge skew to recent births, the number for 5-9 are on 875, so the question will be will they stay?
      http://www.francesbula.com/uncategorized/vancouver-gets-a-high-rise-school-downtown-to-serve-the-baby-boom-there/

      As others have mentioned, its not facilites that keep families out of downtown it is price,

    3. Shoe box apartments, slums of the future and now luxury inner city living. Amazing diversity in the CBD it would seem.

    4. Brendon, here are the decile ratings (and rolls) of the six state primary schools in the inner-city Wellington area (including Newton). I list only primary schools, as these reflect the age groups being mostly being discussed here:
      – Clifton Tce Model School. . . .10 (86)
      – Clyde Quay. . . . 8 (228)
      – Mt Cook Sch. . . 5 (222)
      – Newtown Sch . . 4 (283)
      – Te Aro School. . 6 (215)

      Hardly the 1% wealthy elite that you claim.

  8. Perhaps if we ran classes on how to pick pockets we could increase the number of children in the CBD. When the lovely little urchins were not stealing they could all sing “Consider Yourself” The CBD would have a wonderful vibe!

      1. Gosh so people who think others should try to raise their children in the CBD because it would make the city centre a nicer place dont respect me. That is a blow I will just have to live with. Maybe most parents try to provide a higher level of amenity for their kids even at the cost of a minor inconvenience to themselves of having to travel a bit further to their job. Some of course try to raise their kids in a flat half way up the shady side of a building, but that is their choice. The rest of us take advantage of the much maligned density and daylighting controls in the suburbs.

        1. You’re a bit late with actual arguments, mate. Especially if those arguments amount to “but think of the children” fearmongering. Same “but if they aren’t raised like I was, they will turn out criminals / dole bludgers / weirdos” bullshit as ever. A quarter-acre of delusion as to what really matters in good child-raising.

        2. You raise yours how you want. The rest of us will just have to accept that we are all wrong and rather than living in a community we should have squeezed into a shitty little flat in Hobson St.

  9. I was thinking of moving into the CBD with my 6 month old bc it is pretty much only place in Akld we cd buy and have a short commute. But got a bit discouraged by the lack of primary schools (Freemans Bay seems to be closest which is actually quite far from where many people in CBD work) and daycares. There are daycares in the CBD but most seem to only offer a 9 hour day (no shorter days for a lower charge) and there are not as many options for care as out in the burbs. Lack of parks and trees also a factor for me.

    1. This is a bit late but – I live in the cbd with my pre-schooler and found the same thing with the big ‘chain daycares’. I wanted part time hours- like the kindy experience. There’s a lovely centre called ‘Oma Rapeti’ in Freeman’s bay which does sessional hours. It is a strange situation that my partner and I can walk to work in 5 mins but then have to drive out of the cbd for childcare. It seems that the cbd daycares seem to cater for full time office workers coming in from the suburbs. I meet lots of other cbd parents who drive out to other suburbs for preschools/kindys. It’s not ideal.

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