The distinctive characteristic of this area is the dramatic change in levels as the land falls steeply in a generally northerly and westerly direction towards North Street. This significant topographical change has resulted in the reshaping of the original landform through extensive cutting to accommodate development between Ewing Street and North Street.

Many of the lots along North Street are narrow and long, extending to over 150 feet in some cases. Some of the buildings within this area have an overbearing impact upon the streetscape in terms of both their scale and massing. This is also true of the buildings which present large blank gables onto Angle Street, making for a poor quality built environment. Some of the uses along North Street generate notable volumes of traffic which often results in congestion within the area and bikes being parked on the sidewalk.

North Street is a generally well-used vehicular route along the northern edge of the City, providing connectivity in a number of directions. It is therefore unfortunate that the quality of the streetscape has been diminished by the scale and massing of some of the buildings in the area. Geographically, this area is at the periphery of the City’s northern boundary and is generally not an area which people will walk to and from to access the services available. Whilst this is partly to do with the nature of the services offered, it is also as a consequence of the significant topographical difference between this area and the remainder of the City.