Comments on: Clementhorpe Maltings: heritage, Localism, questions

By: Clementhorpe Malthouse | green4micklegate

Clementhorpe Malthouse | green4micklegate — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 17:23:45 +0000

[…] York stories wrote a good summary of the recent events relating to the selloff […]

By: johnnyhayes

johnnyhayes — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 10:08:35 +0000

I agree with the last comment an excellent article.
The Malt House is a sad loss for the community. I certainly do not blame the developers in this. They have tried to do a good job of converting this empty building. However this really could have been something special. It would have taken a huge effort and lots of time and money but I am confident that a wonderful community building would have emerged.
I think that City of York Council decided for the community that “they would not be interested.” Well they were when they saw inside. If only there had been more information and an opportunity to be involved earlier. A For Sale sign on the building would have altered the whole story. Why didn’t that happen?
Another lost opportunity. The community needs to be prepared itself. This must not happen again. However the Asset of Community Value meeting for the Malt House is on Monday 29th June at 5.30 at West Office. However everybody feels that it is another done deal. The die is cast. Let us see.
I think that we need to be more prepared in the future. I propose that we should develop our own “Micklegate Neighbourhood Plan.” We cannot let things like this happen again. Local people need to know what assets there are in their neighbourhood. They need to say what they see as their priorities for the future. To look at where a new school might be. What type of housing should be built and where. Look at improving the environment.
Rather than reacting to events too late we need to start thinking about what we see for the future of our community. A neighbourhood plan I feel sure is our best way forward.

By: Bob Sydes

Bob Sydes — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 07:42:28 +0000

Excellent article Lisa, absolutely the right questions. GeniUS York was/is, in theory, a very interesting project and one that had/has a lot of promise in terms of unlocking creativity, innovation and resident centred decision making. However, I speak from experience when I say that few people in positions of influence in the Council took/takes it seriously. At least that was my impression. There are some very creative and interesting people who work for the Council but there is no significant internal mechanism for unlocking that creativity, and importantly, acting.

The Maltings is a missed opportunity for sure, the Guildhall complex and Castle Piccadilly (now re-branded the Southern Gateway) are still available – just. Residents were involved in the early stages of the Guildhall through an architectural competition. Reynard’s Garage and all the other quirky buildings on Piccadilly should also form part of a ‘conversation’ with residents. The question, “what is it we really want?’ springs to mind. More questions for you. Will the new political leadership step up to the mark? Will the hiatus created through the search for a new Chief Executive hinder progress? Will the York Civic Trust through its new Chief Executive push for a new agenda? How will ‘Make it York’ make a difference?