The new and coming ‘change of status’ came to the fore last week during a public presentation of draft final report on review of Ikoyi-Victoria Island Model City, held at the Chartered Institute of Bankers, “Bankers House”, Victoria Island. At the presentation, stakeholders had the opportunity to express their views on some of the silent features accompanied the document. The meeting was one of the series that have held between government officials, relevant professional bodies and representatives of Ikoyi-Victoria Island’s community leaders, before the final draft was presented last week.

From the presentation, it is certain that Ikoyi-Victoria Island’s elitist status would be considerably altered. For instance, there is an indication that there is going to be a central business district (CBD) that would be developed in the area. The natural location would be Adeola Hopewell, Idowu Taylor, Tiamiyu Savage, and the environs, while a middle density location would also be created. The area to be so designated would incorporate the Muri Okunola, Akin Ogunlewe, Blarabe Musa Crescent, Bishop Oluwole among other locations.

Besides, other innovations incorporated in the plan are waterfront redevelopment for recreation, promenade, organised public open spaces and preservation of historical monuments. Besides, the old Falomo Shopping Centre is to be redeveloped to accommodate traditional markets where residents would be meeting their domestic needs.

Fundamentally, the Ikoyi-Victoria Island Model City Plan Urban Design Principle proposes that infill of vacant land with mixed-use, commercial and residential accommodations; to create a mixed-use structure that combines ground floor retail space with professional offices above on the and higher density housing of between two –three stories, surrounding a large, shared courtyard; provides private patios or roof terraces for individual dwellings.

To also construct buildings along street front to define space urban corridor, including awnings or arcades to provide shaded sidewalks for passers-by and to locate parking beneath housing units with cars recessed one-half level to make land on site available for gardens and courtyards, rather than for surface parking.

Also, to design structure that is capable of responding to climate for passion solar orientation, sun angles, prevailing breezes and views to the lagoon and coast and to provide mixed-income housing with approximately one-third affordable and two-thirds market-rate housing units.

Speaking at the event, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, spelt the goals of Ikoyi-Victoria Island to include enhancing a sense of community identity; create a socially, environmentally and economically sustainable community; addressing pedestrian comfort and safety and to reflect Ikoyi-Victoria Island’s unique history.

The goals are to provide gathering spaces; support vibrant activities, emphasise important community connections and encourage diverse business types; to provide innovative and architecturally design solutions that reference Ikoyi-Victoria Island’s unique character.

“The new plan has a guideline that supports a vision of Ikoyi-Victoria Island as a pedestrian-friendly city with a sense of place that expresses the Awori essence bearing in mind its colonial structure without losing its world-class vision”.

According to Ayinde, the plan was developed with guidelines dedicated to building community through ‘placemaking’, a term refers to the method of improving public space through a community-driven design process that priroritses community input and emphasizes walk-able streets, lively neighbourhoods and interactive public areas, while “inclusivene3ss is a key component of the process”.

Other innovations incorporated in the plan are waterfront redevelopment for recreation, promenade, organised public open spaces and preservation of historical monuments. Besides, the old Falomo shopping Centre is to be redeveloped to accommodate traditional markets where residents would be meeting their domestic needs.

Ayinde informed that ordinarily, there are supposed to be 35 developed districts, that would have by now, provide for 35 shopping mall, 35 stadia, and 35 of such infrastructure, “but unfortunately, what we can boast today are Ikeja Shopping Mall and one at the Victoria Island”.

He said a number of roads have been identified for rehabilitation, while some section of both Victoria Island and Ikoyi would be redesigned to shed the toga of elitism that the areas are noted for.

Source: Guardian

2014-07-28