Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Haringey's Warehouse Districts Under Threat?
An item at tonight's Council Cabinet meeting has thrown into question the future survival of Haringey's two warehouse districts and the artistic communities who live in them.
Both the Harringay Warehouse District and the Fountayne Road community now face an uncertain future following the publication of a Haringey Council report, "Tackling Unauthorised Living in Industrial Areas". (Report attached)
The report, which was discussed at the full cabinet of the Council today, recommends a two-year project costing £600,000 which will seek to deal with "the growing problem of unauthorised residential and live work uses in and around (the) Industrial Sites" in Haringey. The recommended process is "to establish a special multi-disciplinary team to fully investigate and address the problem through a combination of regulation, improvement, enforcement and, where necessary, prosecution".
The alarm bells were ringing for me since earlier in the week I had discovered that these areas are earmarked as being amongst those that will "will accommodate the majority of development in the borough over the next 20 years".
In Facebook and Twitter conversations this afternoon, warehouse residents shared their fears that the vibrancy their communities bring to the borough will be overlooked and their communities sanitised and destroyed.
In response to my Twitter requests to Council Leader Claire Kober this evening to protect these communities, Cllr Kober sought to offer some reassurance:
@harringayonline some people in unacceptable conditions. My concern is for safe, decent properties. No intention to undermine communities
@harringayonline no intention to damage what's good. Priority is to go after rogue landlords just as we do elsewhere in borough
When I asked if she would ensure that warehouse residents will be involved, the Council Leader replied:
@harringayonline don't see any problem involving residents. Will ask officers to consider how best to achieve
I very much hope that the approach the Council takes in this project will support these communities rather than beginning the process of whittling them away.
Tags for Forum Posts: local plan, local plan 2014, site allocation plan, warehouse district
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Permalink Reply by Ruth on
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So, FPR, how does one apply for these cheap rent lo-cost buildings for artists?
How do you measure those with 'the greatest potential' and those who 'know what they're doing'… the 'most talented creatives'. It's all very subjective, isnt it? I guess Van Gogh wouldn't be allowed in if he were alive today and wanted to live in this place.
Seems like you want those artistic types at a certain level so there would need to be a screening process with transparent measures, interviews etc before the lesser grades artistic types were sent on their way and told to go elsewhere. It would be very hard to do in practice. As it stands, I guess it's all very word of mouth through networks.
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Permalink Reply by Takaokagiejin on
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Despite having no residential permissions or adhering to building regs the rooms are commercially let and advertised openly eg by the property company Spaced Up
http://www.manorhousewarehouses.co.uk
there are also a significant number on gumtree
http://www.gumtree.com/flats-and-houses-for-rent/manor-house/warehouse
While advertised as suitable for "creatives" as you can see the primary emphasis is on the 'funkiness' 'vibe' and the parties. Each unit seems to be let room by room with a huge number inhabiting each one.
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Permalink Reply by ingo pless on
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"Despite having no residential permissions or adhering to building regs the rooms are commercially let and advertised openly eg by the property company Spaced Up"
NO and YES.
I happen to be in what seems to be the first conversion - legitimately done as the architect was a penthouse designer i.e. not a squatter.
Spaced Up appear to be conducting the perfectly legitimate business of letting units of various designations from work to live work.
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So do you mean, no residential permission but they do meet building regs?
It is my understanding from the council papers attached that many of the premises are not permitted for use as residences.
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In terms of Spaced Up's portfolio, yes - their website is quite clear about it.
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You are quite right they are renting one work only unit. My mistake sorry Spaced Up. The myriad of gumtree adverts are however clearly for HMOs
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Thanks Ingo, but can I suggest that a few links would be really helpful so people can jump quickly to the pages where Spaced Up is making all the issues clear.
When people sign a letting contract they need to know what potential or actual risks they are taking. So Spaced Up giving this information is very welcome and may be a useful model for the other landlords nearby.
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Permalink Reply by Brian Moreau on
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Actually the chocolate factory is a financial flop and is also on the redevelopment plan!
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'Vibrant is industry shorthand for 'high quotient of people who look like they're in Fresh Meat, but all with disposable income'.'
Hilarious take on the con that is "vibrant new communities" in The Guardian today:http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/19/urban-vibrancy...
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I'm deeply envious. Wish I could write sharp, hilarious, and well-evidenced stuff like Ian Martin. Glance through the comments as well, as many are well worth reading. (Including one from James Walsh - who may be the HoL member of that name?)
Though I have a worry that it could easily become a means of divide-and-rule. I don't want to see the unscrupulous landlords and more devious developers (not all of them, by the way) encouraging feelings of blame-the-creatives among the the rest of us non-edgy, uncreatives like me.
I particularly loved Ian Martin's description of this type of "regeneration" coming from: "municipal herbivores from the planning department and suave carnivores with cruel smiles and business offices in Jersey."
That seems to be exactly what's happened and is now speeding-up in Haringey. Parts of the borough with free-rein given to the carnivores; with existing residents sold-out by what passes for a Labour Council led by ignorant and ambitious politicians with red-rosettes and Tory policies.
Warren Buffett said that: “If you've been playing poker for half an hour and you still don't know who the patsy is, you're the patsy” .
(Tottenham Hale ward councillor)
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Permalink Reply by Mavic Starfish on
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The developers must have got onto Google Maps - Warehouse District is named in this link
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=harringay%20warehouse%20district&a...
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