A little love lights up lanes

BEATRICE THOMAS, The West Australian January 31, 2012, 5:02 am

Cameron Emmerson at the Andaluz Tapas bar.

Perth's burgeoning laneways scene is set to be bolstered further with City of Perth eyeing an $800,000 revamp of Prince Lane.

The lane is the next cab off the rank in the council's successful forgotten spaces strategy, which has resulted in Wolf Lane, Howard Lane and Grand Lane being upgraded.

Under a plan before the council tonight, Prince Lane will receive new granite paving, lighting, extra closed-circuit television cameras and artwork.

The project is slated to start in May and finish by the end of the year.

A staff report to the council noted the laneway, which is between Murray and Wellington streets west of King Street, would be an important future walking route through the planned Perth City Link precinct to Northbridge.

"Given its proximity adjacent to King Street, the proposed enhancements to Prince Lane will assist with attracting investment in what is currently a significant but underdeveloped laneway," the report said.

It said a survey of adjacent building owners and tenants found Prince Lane had problems with antisocial after-hours behaviour, rubbish, noise from nearby licensed venues and graffiti.

Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said yesterday the council was talking to property owners about potential opportunities once the upgrade was complete.

Ms Scaffidi said ideally the council preferred businesses that generated on-street activity such as cafes, restaurants, shops and small bars.

Wolf Lane, which was upgraded in 2002, includes small bars Wolfe Lane Bar and Cheeky Sparrow and hairdresser Toni & Guy.

Howard Lane, which was upgraded in 2009-10, includes small bars Andaluz and Helvetica, while Grand Lane has Breve Cafe.

"The upgrade of these laneways has sparked the development of new businesses in what would otherwise have been forgotten spaces," Ms Scaffidi said.

"There is now an increased recognition and demand for laneway frontage leases."

Ms Scaffidi said design work on McLean Lane, adjacent to the Gasworks Building, would start in 2012-13 with construction planned the following year.

She said the council had started research into opportunities for upgrading laneways in Northbridge.

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Silver One10:59am Tuesday 31st January 2012 WSTReport Abuse
This is largely thanks to an Allanah McTiernan push to make our city more liveable. She also encouraged small bars to open up instead of 'drinking barns'. Last year NO new bars were approved. We have a long way to go to catch up to Melbourne.
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Con Dom12:29pm Tuesday 31st January 2012 WSTReport Abuse
McTiernan the much vaunted but under achieving woman is a joke. She like most Labor politicians is & always has been all smoke & mirrors. She is really the Kevin Sheedy of the political scene, all self promotion and bluff but if you look closely at the record it is a fail.
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Con Dom11:41am Thursday 02nd February 2012 WSTReport Abuse
I would like to express thanks to all the lefty dropkicks who continue to highlight my comments. The continued use of the thumb is just like using a bright coloured highlighter and attracts everyone to read them which after all is the purpose of the post. Thanks again.
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Con Dom07:01pm Thursday 02nd February 2012 WSTReport Abuse
You lefty cretins are so predictable.
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WabbottHunter09:55am Friday 03rd February 2012 WSTReport Abuse
Now you really are talking to yourself
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