Martina Connolly, CEO of Belfast One BID (Business Improvement District) has welcomed the announcement from Belfast City Council to upgrade the façade at 35-39 Royal Avenue, as decided this week at City Hall.
Ms. Connolly commented; “Belfast City Council’s ‘Vacant to Vibrant’ programme is key to the continued regeneration of Royal Avenue, enhancing the aesthetic of the area to drive footfall and commercial interest. With the ground floor of this building now on the market, we look forward to welcoming another retailer to the Belfast One district.”
The announcement complements Belfast One’s continued placemaking initiative to enhance the city centre’s aesthetic appeal and vibrancy, ‘A Bolder Vision for Belfast’. The campaign was launched with the ‘OUR CITY’ 20-meter mural by Alana McDowell at the corner of Royal Avenue and Lower Garfield Street in July.
Belfast One is actively stepping in to tackle longstanding challenges on Royal Avenue through a coordinated, practical placemaking approach. In partnership with agencies including Belfast City Council and the Department for Infrastructure, Belfast One is addressing derelict buildings, poor lighting, broken pavements, obstructive street furniture, blocked drains, inadequate signage, and general neglect. The BID has deployed its Clean Team, removing graffiti, power-washing surfaces, and maintaining cleanliness, to help to lift the visual environment and counter anti-social behaviour.
Belfast One’s ‘A Bolder Vision for Belfast’ continues this Culture Night (Friday 19th September) with a live Street Art experience, Base Coat in collaboration with Hit the North Street Art Festival. Across key city centre locations – from the electric boxes on Royal Avenue, the hoardings along Lower Garfield Street, to the walls of North Street – some of Belfast’s most talented street artists will be painting live throughout the evening.
Martina finished; “Supporting local talent and vibrant initiatives like this is exactly what our city centre thrives on, and we’re delighted to be part of it all.”