Part of a Cityscape series presenting the opinions of real people who live in Christchurch's central city: Dale Deavoll.

Which neighbourhood do you live in? Kilmore Street near Margaret Mahy Playground.

How’s the vibe there? Increasingly residential. A people place. The playground has been a real game changer around here – it just brings so many people in on the weekends. New Regent Street is also just such a hive of activity. The businesses there are really doing a fantastic job using that space. The natural elements are great too. The river promenade from our place to the hospital is the nicest stretch of central city walkable space in the country.

Your neighbours are... Great. Apartment living is very misunderstood. You share some things but you have the same level of privacy as you do in the suburbs. I'd even say people are actually more considerate when you share a wall or a stairwell. There are 17 people in our small building but it's surprising how seldom you actually run into each other. I think people think the opposite about apartments, like you'd be falling over each other, but it's not like that at all. The majority of residents are renters but there's not a lot of movement, it's pretty stable. People enjoy living here. We have an 8-year-old and there are other families living in the neighbourhood. We cross the road and chat with neighbours like you do in the suburbs, it's no different. You become familiar with shop owners, buskers, bar and café workers and some have become good friends of ours.

Why do you choose to live in the four aves? I've always liked central Christchurch, ever since I was a teenager. It's always been a nice mix of the old and the new. And while there is now a heck of a lot more new, there are still some nice old spots which have been saved and enhanced. I challenge anyone to name a better city experience in New Zealand than having a beer in the sun in the south quad of the Arts Centre. I was overseas in the couple of years immediately following the earthquake and came home after seeing what was happening in the central city – sensing that people saw the opportunities at play. Some of those chances have been wasted but some are rolling on and it's exciting seeing it up close. I've deliberately lived centrally since coming back, and seeing the city build up around me has been surreal. I still remember cycling through town at night in 2014 and there was nothing happening. Silence. It's not like that now – it's not complete by any means, but it's come alive.

Read more of Cityscape's central city living coverage here

Biggest drawcard? Location is amazing, we're near the river which has been transformed into an arterial walking route connecting a heap of exciting things and it's beautiful. Fifteen years ago the river was disconnected, now it's open, calming, car-free and full of people.

Biggest drawback? Why is there no fish ‘n’ chip shop inside the four aves?

Fave local coffee? Too many to name, Foundation in Tūranga, Kea Coffee in Margaret Mahy Playground, Laneway Espresso, Belle.

Food? Brunch – Belle and The Caffeine Laboratory both on New Regent Street but we like to try out new places as much as possible, we can’t keep up. Little Poms is a star, Child Sister is incredible. Lunch and dinner – Sun Dog Diner, Dimitris, El Rancho Riverside tacos, 5th Street, gin gin, OGB.

Entertainment? CAG – the best art gallery in the country. Lumière and Alice Cinemas. Gigs at Boo Radley's, Darkroom, OGB, gin gin, Austin Club, Canterbury Film Society on Monday nights at CAG, Isaac Theatre and Town Hall concerts. Whisky at The Last Word.

Retail? There is some pretty great shopping in town, nice to have two thrift stores now on high street Paper Bag Princess and Recycle Boutique, Infinite Definite, Ballantyne's, Scorpio Books. We could do with another department store... Farmers could return? And a supermarket somewhere in the north would be good. I only ever go to a mall to go to Farmers. I go to the gym at Hereford City Fitness.

How do you get around? Bike 90%, bus (we live right by the 1, 28 and 29), Uber, e-scooter and walk. We have a garage and a car but I don't know how to drive it.

What’s your occupation? Teacher.

Is work handy to home? 20 minutes by bike or 15 minutes on the 29 e-bus.

Can you describe the Christchurch of the future in one sentence? Cooler than Copenhagen.

Why should other people move here now? The people I hear about most wanting to move in are older people downsizing, which is great, but more younger people coming in would add something else I think. Maybe that's a cost issue. And maybe we should be doing more to draw younger buyers into the CBD. It's a great place to live. We like it and don't really have any plans to move.