FREE rent will be offered to commercial tenants along Kings Cross’ struggling commercial strip in a plan to bring back shoppers lost in the post-lockout economy.

The Potts Point Partnership will roll out the $14,000 high street reactivation scheme, to be known as Renew Kings Cross, with the help of the Renew Australia organisation.

Renew, the brainchild of broadcaster Marcus Westbury, is credited with revitalising the commercial district in Newcastle, and has rolled out similar projects across the country.

media_camera Renew Australia founder Marcus Westbury toured Kings Cross with representatives of the City of Sydney and the Potts Point Partnership earlier this year. media_camera Potts Point Partnership co-ordinator Louise Shepherd said the Renew Kings Cross project would stimulate the Kings Cross daytime economy.

Renew Newcastle, which began in 2009, matched the landlords of Newcastle’s long-dormant Hunter St commercial strip with a new generation of young entrepreneurs.

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Gallery spaces, record stores, craft centres, fashion boutiques began to open in the city centre for the first time in decades.

media_camera A vacant David Jones department store in Newcastle is now The Emporium housing artists and designers selling a range of beautifully-crafted products. Picture: Facebook

The scheme was credited with drawing the city to the attention of Lonely Planet, who named it one of the Top 10 cities in the world to visit in 2011

Leichhardt Council has recently used Renew’s expertise to boost the struggling fortunes of the Italian Forum development.

Participating Kings Cross landlords would be required to make their properties available to tenants for free, under temporary terms.

media_camera Newcastle Mall has been revived thanks to the project, which has provided budding creative businesses with cheap or free shopfronts. Picture: Facebook

Tenants typically would be start-up businesses requiring a kickstart.

The process is credited with keeping otherwise empty premises maintained and bringing more foot traffic to the area.

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Both parties act under the knowledge that their arrangement can be dissolved if a permanent lease is taken up, or if the tenant either outgrows the arrangement or its venture fails to take flight.

media_camera ”Best rental deal in Sydney”: premises sit empty in Sydney’s once-premier late-night district.

Partnership co-ordinator Louise Shepherd said the project aimed to be up and running in October.

“We see this as an important step to attract a more diverse business mix into the area, and to assist to stimulate daytime activity,” Ms Shepherd said.

She said a minimum of five properties would be “activated” as part of the first phase of the project.