Magical makeover for LBGT quarter
THE heart of Liverpool’s LGBT quarter is undergoing a radical makeover influenced by the Wizard of Oz.
Eberle Street is being transformed with a unique paving and lighting scheme paying homage to the Yellow Brick Road and the mythical Land of Oz via it’s connection with Garlands Nightclub and Judy Garland.
The works jointly funded by Liverpool BID Company and Liverpool City Council, represent the biggest investment in the city’s ‘Stanley Street Quarter’ for a decade and aim to be complete for Liverpool’s annual Pride celebrations in late July.
The scheme celebrates Liverpool’s LGBT community and heritage, and is inspired by the diverse range of entertainment venues in the area such as the Artist Club, Garlands, Passion and Gbar.
The current road, footway and concrete kerbing, will make way for a single surface highway consisting of high quality stone which will contrast the existing buildings and a rich palette to a tired, dark street.
The design is a creative collaboration between Liverpool BID Company, Liverpool City Council, Amey Consulting and Liverpool-based award winning designers BCA Landscape and the works will be carried out by Amey LG and local contractor King Construction.
Stakeholders from all of the local businesses have been invited to review, approve and add design input at all stages of the process.
The Eberle Street scheme is part of a larger £1.6m programme improving the business area and pedestrian connections north-south between the Commercial District and the retail core of the city centre.
The Commercial District BID, which recently won a new five-year mandate, has invested £1.1m in the two-year programme, raised via a levy on businesses. Liverpool City Council has funded the remaining £500,000, and has utilised their expertise, consultants and local business to design and develop the BID Streets Scheme.
Jim Gill, chairman of the Commercial District BID, which represents more than 550 businesses, said: “The Eberle Street scheme is a real highlight of this programme of works and I’ve no doubt it will prove to be a great attraction when it is completed.’’
Bill Addy, chief executive of the Liverpool BID Company, added: “We’ve been delighted with the improvements made so far in the Commercial District and the feedback from the business community and the public has been overwhelmingly positive.
“The Eberle Street scheme has required a great level of thought and design and the fact that local businesses have had a great amount of input has been hugely gratifying.’’
