In the Observer Building's centenary year, works to restore the façade of the building are now complete. Scaffolding has been up since 2021 and extensive work has been done on the façade to restore the previously neglected front of the building to its former glory.
Permission has been given, contractors have been appointed and renovation has finally begun on three Hastings Commons properties: 12 Claremont, Eagle House, and the rooftop of the Observer Building. Through the experienced hands of Hastings Commons, whose unique regeneration approach has been crafted over more than 15 years of local action, these previously neglected buildings are being given new leases of life and purpose, all for community benefit. It has taken many years of action from the Hastings Commons team and the wider community to get to this point, and these renovations represent a pivotal moment for all three buildings.
A new book, published by Hastings Commons and chronicling the rise, fall and rescue of the historic Observer Building, in honour of its 100th birthday, is to be launched on 20th March. The book can be purchased online, directly from Hastings Commons during events and in local bookshops.
Join Hastings Commons on 20th March for an action-packed afternoon and evening of celebration to commemorate the highlights of the four-year Trinity Triangle Heritage Action Zone (TTHAZ) project which ends this March.
Please join us for our first open public meeting about the Hastings Commons on Thursday 15th February at 5.30pm - 7pm at the Observer Building.
Following the success of the 2022 People of Hastings project where local folk were scanned and reproduced as small-scale 3D models, OBX have been asking ourselves, ‘what’s next for 3D printing? How can we keep people interested and push the boundaries of people’s understanding of what 3D printing can do?’ Their next venture is into the land of 3d printed chocolate!
We are delighted to share with you the Hastings Commons CLT Annual Report for 2022 - 2023. It has been a busy year for Hastings Commons and the report shares the many highlights and developments that have occurred in 2022 - 2023.
We currently have two spaces of differing size and location available to rent long term across the Hastings Commons. Being a tenant with us means you're more than just a number as we are always keen to include our tenants as people on the Hastings Commons journey.
The need for community housing in Hastings has never been greater. The time to do it was ‘already by now’. Luckily we’ve been getting on with it, but there’s a lot more at stake. The Hastings Commons community land trust was the result of a series of local meetings back in 2016 asking “is gentrification happening? If so, is it a problem? If so, is there anything we can do about it?”. The answer we came up with was to bring property into community ownership and cap the rents forever at 1/3 of average local income. We now have 12 flats at Living Rents or below, but it’s very far from enough.
Get involved with OBX Connects - a new series of monthly talks and meet -ups for creative people working with technology. The talks are free and open to everyone.