‘Paint the town’ offers facelift

February 23  |  2011

By MARIA LOW

The National Hotel is the first building in Cambridge to receive a makeover in an initiative co-ordinators hope will help showcase the Cambridge business district to visitors from New Zealand and overseas.

‘‘Paint the town’’ is a joint initiative between the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, Destination Cambridge and Resene Paints Limited. Under the scheme, members of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, Destination Cambridge or their landlords can buy paint from Resene at a discounted rate to paint the facades of their buildings. The offer covers the veranda, shop exterior and interiors on completion of the facade but not to signs. Participants also have free access to the professional expertise of Resene’s Waikato colour consultant Lucy Furniss and Resene’s RenderRite service that allows building owners to see what the paint finish would look like before it is started.

The initiative was coordinated by architect and executive member of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Antanas Procuta and Julie Epps, former chamber executive officer. Sharyn Flintoft of Flintoft Roband, builders and project managers of The National Hotel, said she chose to access the Paint the Town scheme as it coincided with the refurbishment of the hotel. Mrs Flintoft said that sometimes business and building owners were reluctant to make changes or refurbish their premises in the face of a ‘‘critical public eye’’. ‘‘The professional support and guidance available and electronic rendering programme allowed us to view the finished product beforehand,’’ she said. ‘‘This initiative encourages people to have the confidence to make changes and to be a part of a united drive to showcase our town and the pride that Cambridge residents have for their surroundings.’’

The Paint the Town scheme will be officially launched on February 23 at the Chamber of Commerce Business After Five function. For information on how to access the scheme, contact Raewyn Jones at the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce on 823 3460.