Club 103
In September 2022 we bought C103.
You might know it as JFK’s, the Beer Keller, Avis’s, Tiff’s, or remember it as The Street.
For ten years it had been a big, grey row of buildings in increasingly bad disrepair and having a negative impact on the street.
That is not OK - we need buildings to be used, create opportunities, and be useful and loved by future generations.
So, that is starting to happen now they are 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 these buildings 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 buildings are 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?
We gave the front a colourful new look, with local portraits and the ‘Making Change’ message because we know it will make the street feel different for people walking by.
In the background we are securing funds, getting permissions, 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. Come along to The Museum Of Here to reminisce and share your stories.
Long-term plans
We are currently applying for funding and investment to help make long term improvements.
We are looking at the site as two buildings, as it was historically. One half will be space for local organisations working with young people, space for the community and an indoor urban farm that will create food, training opportunities and local jobs as well as making a gorgeous space to hang out all year round.
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!
