Social Impactor
2021 AWARD FINALIST
Sponsored by MAS
Gap Filler is a social enterprise that runs Good Spot, a community-minded car park in central Ōtautahi Christchurch. Good Spot is a partnership with Fletcher Living to grow community on sites awaiting future development as part of residential development in the central city.
This area comprises five blocks that were left vacant as a result of post-quake demolitions. The initiative is bringing life, a sense of new community and energy to rebuilding this part of the city.
Good Spot provides a service (car parking). It has parking attendants on site each morning from Monday to Friday to help out, say hello and foster a sense of community.
Good Spot was created as a local, community-minded model of carparking to grow community and keep profits circulating locally. It aims to be an example of regenerative economics in the way it addresses local issues (unemployment, segregation and gentrification) through a partnership with local organisation Te Whare Roimata.
By employing marginalised people as attendants who have daily interactions with inner-city workers, Good Spot is supporting the creation of community and interactions between people from different socio-economic situations. It has also raised nearly a million dollars for community projects delivered within 500m of the car park, keeping the benefits local.