Though Mr Baker said “we feel there is more to be done”, he did not indicate exactly what this was.Īn exasperated representative of Coexist stated that they were at once being asked to deliver unrealistically ambitious ‘vision’ while also presenting a viable business case with very little guidance from C&C. Speaking to attendees, representative of C&C Andrew Baker said that Coexist’s previous £5.5 million offer to purchase the building was rejected as it did not fulfill C&C’s notion of a “sustainable community” as well as requiring a loan from C&C. Due to the stated social and ethical aims of both Coexist and C&C much of the meeting revolved around more vexed and less practical issues. However, this was not a usual discussion about a building’s use. Multiple attendees cited strong concerns about what this uncertainty meant for their businesses, with one saying that thousands of pounds of orders could be at risk if they could not plan beyond this period. This was described by a Coexist representative as a “clear and distinct change of direction”, though defended as a routine legal process by Andrew Baker of C&C. This is in part due to the suddenness of a process that has interrupted the expectation that the lease would be renewed on a year-by-year basis, as it has done since Coexist’s establishment in 2008. This statement was met with a lukewarm reception from many attendees. The letter stated there would be break clauses on two of the three building blocks that could end the contract at three months if planning permission is not obtained for plans to develop part of the building into apartments, including some reserved for current Hamilton House commercial tenants. The letter detailed C&C’s offer to Coexist of a 6 month extended lease on the building. Representatives of Coexist read out a letter received from C&C within an hour of the start of the meeting. The meeting was called to discuss and clarify the sudden insecurity the notice to vacate has caused the 200 businesses, artists, community organisations and charities operating out of the iconic building. Last week C&C issued Coexist with a notice to vacate the building by August 11th. Also in attendance was Andrew Baker, a senior employee of property company Connolly & Callaghan (C&C), who own the building. In attendance were businesses and studio holders based in the building as well as staff members of Coexist, the social enterprise and building managers. Copy Link A packed meeting took place at Hamilton House on Stokes Croft this afternoon to discuss the future of the building.
0 kommentar(er)
