Club 103
In September 2022 we bought C103
You might know it as JFKs, the Beer Keller, Avis’s, Tiff’s or remember The Street.
For ten years it had been a big grey and very derelict building!
That now changes because it is owned by the community…
We know it has a special place in lots of people’s hearts and it can play an important part in the street again.
It had been standing empty and very neglected. Here is a bit about what is going to happen first…
We bought it with the support of a local business that wanted to invest in making good things happen, and grant funding from Power to Change funded the process and immediate costs involved in taking a building like this on.
The building is in a really horrible state, but as soon as we can we’ll take the same approach as our other buildings and get lots of people involved.
Our first priorities are:
— Remove the asbestos
— Make it safe to go inside
— Stop any further damage from holes in the roof, pigeons and water damage
— Clear it out
— Improve the front so the street feels a bit nicer (you can help with this bit!)
What is happening now?
Resurrected from the clutches of neglect, this architectural gem now stands tall, breathing new life into its surroundings through its colourful new look, local portraits and the ‘Making Change’ typographic mural.
In the background we are doing the urgent actions mentioned above, sussing out utilities, structural issues and all the tricky things involved in a building like this.
And we’re listening… to your stories, memories, hopes and dream and researching the history to inform the future of these special buildings.
Long term plans
We are looking at the site in two halves. One half will be space for local organisations working with young people and an indoor urban farm that will create food, training opportunities and local jobs.
The other half will be housing for young people with activities that they can join in with alongside other local people on the ground floor. This might take a bit a of time to plan for so in the short term we are going to get this space in use.
Local young people told us time and time again that there is not enough to do and not enough opportunities for them.
We’ve also heard from local people that we must help the city achieve Net Zero and confront the climate emergency - so it feels right to make these uses a priority. Watch this space!
