Community centre facing an uncertain future in Avenues
COUNCIL-OWNED BUILDING UNDER REVIEW
THE future of a council-owned building used by community groups is under review.
The day-to-day running of the Avenues Centre in Park Avenue was taken over by the Goodwin Development Trust in 2018.
It was previously operated by Hull City Council as an adult education centre until 2015 when services were transferred to the Endeavour site in Beverley Road.
Since taking it over, the trust has operated the Victorian landmark building as a community hub occupied by nine different tenants, including a number of local artists.
Hull North MP Diana Johnson has also moved her constituency office into part of the ground floor.
Now, Goodwin has announced it intends to give up the lease when it expires in August.
The decision follows a review of the trust’s business activities due to uncertainty in future funding created by the coronavirus pandemic and an unsuccessful bid for Heritage Lottery funding last year, which aimed to secure money to refurbish the listed building.
The trust has also recently seen the retirement of long-serving chief executive Peter Mcgurn, who played a key role in taking on the lease nearly three years ago.
Now, the city council is reviewing a range of future options for the building.
They include the council operating it as a managed workspace, bringing another partner organisation onboard to replace Goodwin or selling the property.
Speaking at a Wyke area committee, chairman Councillor Marjorie Brabazon said: “That building has got such great potential and it has been used quite extensively by the community.
“A lot of people have got a lot of benefit out of it remaining open and from the work that Goodwin has done.”
Councillor Abi Bell said: “It’s a shame Goodwin has taken this decision, because I think some of the stuff it has done there has been excellent, and we should say thank you for that.”
Councillor John Fareham said he believed the council should take over the running of the property if an alternative partner organisation could not be found.
He said he wanted to see the council’s Wyke area team staying in the centre with the venue also continuing as a base for area committee meetings.