Former LA's site to become 'world-class' youth facility
THE site of Hull's legendary former nightclub Lexington Avenue is to be turned into a £5m "world-class" youth centre.
Hull City Council has been awarded funding from the Government via Big Lottery myplace to turn the empty space on Ferensway, city centre, into a state of the art youth facility.
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GRAND PLAN: An artist's impression of the youth centre to be built on the site of the old Lexington Avenue nightclub in Ferensway.
The aim is to construct a five-storey building which will house a large open plan performing arts space.
This will host a wide range of events from the Hull youth parliament to clubbing nights and gigs.
There are plans to include a recording studio, sports facilities, a dance space and chill-out zone as well as an outdoor activity space.
There will be a learning area and other support services for young people with a café and juice bar.
The project suffered a major set back when the first attempt to find funding was rejected by the Big Lottery myplace in March this year.
Another, more detailed, bid was resubmitted and was successful.
Hull City Council can now develop blueprints for the site, which should be finished by the middle of next year.
The authority also still needs to secure additional funding of around £3m.
The project has been developed by a number of young volunteers and Hull City Council, working in partnership with organisations including NHS Hull, KIDS, Goodwin Development Trust and The Warren.
Nickie Johnson, the voice and influence manager for the city council's young people's service, has been involved in the plan since it was first announced July 2008.
She said: "I am so pleased, we always hoped it would happen.
"Hull needs this and it's just such a great opportunity to build something really aspirational for young people in this city."
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by tia YA, hull
Tuesday, December 22 2009, 11:41AM
“i was one of the many young advisors working to get this youth club made for the young people of hull and am so glad that its finally happening. we are hoping this with propell hull further allowing more young people to find work and things to do, making hull a much better place.”
by Adam Barley (volunteer youth worker), Hull
Monday, December 21 2009, 1:10AM
“Okay Chris there use to be tripple the amount you youth club 10, 15 years ago, now look at hull you can only name 3, 4 in the whole city. Shall i tell all the young people that say to me theres not enough youth facilities to come and sit out side your house on a night. Just think how many young people facilities there are in hull and how many yp are in the city. The youth centres i work in "get 50 to 60 young people off the streets" as i have heard a number of resiedent say when they have yp on there street corners. We do our best to keep young people doing something and not causing trouble, so when this city gets something good for once you are trying to take it off us.
Malet youth centre
Bilton Youth Centre
Marfleet Youth Centre
Greatfield Youth Centre
All above centres closed in the past, and this is going to be the first centre in many years to be opened. I bet if all youth provision in Hull was to stop you would be first of many to complain about young people and everywhere and causing a disturbence!!!”
by digger, Hull
Saturday, December 19 2009, 2:37PM
“I have lived in hull for a while and have come to love the city. What I dont understand is why residents here pull it down all the time - there are loads of things in its favour and the only thing to spoil it is the short sighted viewpoint of some of its residents. Not so long ago all i heard was arguments about gangs of youths hanging around street corners - and now a plan is put into place to offer them something to do and get them off the corners you moan it costs money - of course it does - but these youths are our future and worth investing in. There has been great talent come from Hull - lets encourage more of it or would you rather stand back and let the only good thing that comes out of hull be the M62?”
by Chris, hull
Friday, December 18 2009, 11:46PM
“Dont we already have enough youth centres such as Kingston Youth Center, The Warren Centre, the one down newland ave and the one on holderness road? And they all have 'chill out zones'. the warren and KYC have music areas and the warren has an art zone. we dont need this, the site and money could be spent on something which is actually needed!!!”
by J, Hull
Thursday, December 17 2009, 12:58PM
“I'd prefer it if they used that cash to rebuild LA's...”