Smith Street is a shopping street in Collingwood (LAPM 12) and Gold (LAPM 10). It’s a great street that can be even better. Smith Street can be better for business by becoming the core of a 20-minute neighbourhood where local residents regularly visit, shop and linger.

Image credit: Streets Alive Yarra, Apple Maps.

Existing conditions

Smith Street suffers from a lack of trees, space for footpath dining, level access tram stops or separated bicycle lanes.

Smith Street looking south. Image credit: Google Maps.

Previous assessments

As part of the planned re-write of the Yarra Planning Scheme, the City of Yarra published a background paper on access and movement in 2015.

Source: City of Yarra
Image credit: City of Yarra Background Paper

Yarra’s Encouraging and Increasing Walking Strategy 2005 identified that:

Recommendations for Smith Street. Image credit: Encouraging and Increasing Walking Strategy 2005.

Opportunities

Smith Street can attract more patronage becoming the core of a 20-minute neighbourhood, with wider footpaths, separated bicycle lanes and level-access tram stops. Parking for shoppers can be increased by relocating bays to the first 5-10 spots on each side street, with the first spot reserved for deliveries.

Smith Street could look like Carlisle Street in Melbourne. Image credit: Google Maps.
Proposed cross-section for Smith Street. Image credit: Streetmix and Streets Alive Yarra.
Proposal to bend bike lanes behind tram stops. Image credit: Streets Alive Yarra.

The key is to understand that on-street parking isn’t the answer – if Smith Street is attractive then people will find a way to get there.

Image credit: Revitalize, or Die

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