It's back! E8 Arts and Crafts trail : Saturday and Sunday 7th & 8th June

  

Next weekend, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th June from 11am until 5pm, Dalston (and Hackney) artists and makers are throwing open their homes and studio doors to the public. You can see who's exhibiting, and find an interactive map to guide you on your cultural safari, on the trail's website here

The work exhibited for sale includes fine art, illustration, ceramics, jewellery, fabrics, clothing, accessories and more. 

The trail invites you to spend happy hours browsing art and craft in this Hackney neighbourhood, meeting the artists who live and work here and snapping up bargains direct from the makers!

Rio Cinema to screen "Save our Heritage" and "Hands off" on Saturday 24th May as part of Hackney History Festival

As part of the Hackney Society's  "Hackney History Festival", which includes walks talks visits and events, the Rio Cinema will be screening two of film director Winstan Whitter's documentaries and hosting a Q&A with Winstan and his collaborator on the films, local solicitor activist Bill Parry-Davies. The Rio Cinema filmshow begins a 1.30pm on Saturday 24th May.

 "Save our Heritage" tells the story of our community's battle to try and save Dalston's architectural and cultural legacy from demolition and re-development as an enclave of private high-rise flats.

At risk were locally listed Georgian houses, the oldest surviving Circus entrance in the UK and the "greatest cinema in the British Empire". These heritage buildings had become home to the legendary "Four Aces" reggae club and the "Labrynth" rave venue.The redevelopment scheme was to be subsidised by public funds paid for by Hackney borough residents, the Greater London Authority and central government.

"Hands Off" tells the story of the Shoreditch community's battle to keep its striptease bars when Hackney's Licensing Committee decided to adopt a "NIL" policy to ban their existence. "Browns" and the "White Horse" were both owned and managed by women, fully complied with the terms of their Council licences, provided a safe working environment for their dancers, received no complaints from police and employed numerous local residents. 

Local club owners, dancers, politicians, trade union representatives and the vicar of Shoreditch Church are all interviewed in the film discussing issues of feminism, morality, personal safety, freedom of choice and liberty.

On Sunday 25 May at 1.30pm the Rio will also be screening a third Hackney documentary by Winstan Whitter - "How to get on with everybody", an intimate portrait of the unique life of Herchel Gluck, a Rabbi from the Haredi Jewish community in Hackney's Stamford Hill followed by a Q&A with Winstan, Elin Moe and the star of the film Herchel Gluck.

Friends of Ashwin Street move to secure community benefit on sale of public cultural asset

On Monday 24th March Hackney's Cabinet, as reported here, delegated full authority to its officers to sell a key site in Dalston's 'Cultural Quarter': the land and buildings at 10-16 Ashwin St.  Our architectural and cultural legacy was to be sold for "best consideration", with "no restrictions" on their future uses and with no scrutiny of the final deal by our elected representatives to ensure that the public's interest had been properly secured. (It looked like Dalston's "Cultural Quarter" was being thrown to the wolves! Ed).

10-16 Ashwin St frontages - originally built as three houses in 1870 to designs of noted architect Edwin Horne

The following day, on Tuesday 25th March, a new association called the Friends of Ashwin Street, served an application on the Council nominating 10-16 Ashwin St as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). The stated objective was to ensure that "future uses of the asset shall continue to serve the social interest and well being of the local community as it has done on the past and in particular by the promotion of the creative arts". Signatories of the ACV nomination include current and previous Dalston Ward Councillors, office holders of several Hackney amenity societies as well as a broad section of our local community.  

The former 1862 railway engineering works of Tyer & Co extending behind 10-16 Ashwin St 

V22 London Limited (V22) has been managing the buildings as affordable artists studios for the last 20 years. But its lease had expired and the condition of the buildings, for which Hackney retained responsibility to repair, was precarious, dangerous even. V22 has always enjoyed collaborative relationships with other local cultural enterprises, particularly Cafe Oto and the Eastern Curve Garden. V22 proposed  expansion of those businesses and developing an Ashwin Arts Centre on site and it enlisted their support for V22's offer to purchase the buildings privately from the Council. V22's founding director had also teamed up with Hackney's prominent property whizz Edward Benyon. Their vision looked ambitious, but achievable.

The community's Eastern Curve Garden uses part of 10-16 Ashwin St's land behind the buildings

Hackney's sale of the site seemed inevitable. They buildings "required comprehensive repair, refurbishment and modernisation, at a very substantial cost" which our cash strapped Council could not afford. The Cabinet report noted that the Council was able to sell the buildings to a private buyer and that a discount of up to £2million off their full market value could be offered if the transaction was likely to contribute to economic, social or environmental public benefit eg "In this case ensuring investment in the asset which will benefit the local community." But how could that local community benefit be ensured when Hackney had resolved that it would impose no restrictions on future uses? (V22 told me they had invited Hackney to consider such restrictions, but it had declined. Ed). Was it all to rely only on verbal promises and personal "trust"? What if V22s Directors, or its shareholdings, changed? What if commercial pressures forced a change in V22's priorities or even a sale of the buildings? 

Colourful brick banding, decorative stonework & barley twist columns have been defaced by a layer of shabby white paint

The day following the Friends of Ashwin Street nominating the buildings as an Asset of Community Value, Hackney did a U-Turn. V22 informed the Friends that Hackney was now requiring restrictions by conditions of sale to the following effect:

10-16 Ashwin Street must be used solely and exclusively for the benefit of the local community, and in particular, as workspace and event space for artists, creatives, entrepreneurs, and community-focused organisations and initiatives. This restriction shall remain binding on V22 and any subsequent owner for a period of 15 years from the date of purchase and

If V22 sells all or any part of the property, it must repay to Hackney the net profit earned on the sale calculated in the first 5 years from purchase at 75% and then tapering down by 7.5% each year to 0% in year 15

V22 has also agreed with Friends that it will extend the restriction on the uses proposed from 15 to 25 years and, in view of the Friends concern about the need to conserve the architectural as well as the cultural heritage of the site, V22's founder has sent this letter of reassurance to the Friends:

The alternative, to V22 buying the site with these safeguards in place, is uncertainty. If the Friends nomination as an ACV succeeded and it wanted  to ensure permanent community benefit eg by forming a Community Land Trust (CLT) to buy it, there would inevitable be further delay (of up to 6 months), the buildings would be "mothballed", remain uninhabitable, deteriorate and probably be put on the open market. The Friends/CLT bid would then compete with developers who might offer more - as the Council report noted, some developers"might be able to take a longer term view" about ultimately achieving a more profitable redevelopment ie luxury flats rather than an arts hub.  We've seen before what happens when there's a fire sale of the family silver to the private sector when Hackney was broke.

Hackney's Dalston Lane Georgian terrace, auctioned as one lot to an off-shore company over the heads of the shopkeepers. Fires,  evictions & demolitions  followed. Finally Hackney bought them back, for double the auction sale price, and they were re-built in "heritage likeness".  With no affordable housing at all because, apparently, phoney replicas are so expensive.

The unanimous view expressed by the Friends of Ashwin Street was that, with the sale restrictions and profit repayment being put in place to protect the community's interest , and the local community's (including the Friends) support for V22's Ashwin Arts Centre vision, the ACV application no longer need be pursued. Hackney had suspended purchase negotiations with V22 whilst it was considering the Friend's ACV application. The ACV application has now been withdrawn so that those negotiations with V22 can continue.  

 

Hackney's Cabinet authorises Council officers to complete a private sector carve up of Dalston's "Cultural Quarter"

Tonight, Hackney Council's Mayor and Cabinet delegated their responsibility to Council officers to make all the decisions on selling Hackney's three sites in Dalston's "Cultural Quarter" to  private buyers. 

This means that the elected Mayor and Councillors do not want and will have no further say on any of the private deals concluded and whether the public's interest has been properly protected.

Hackney recommends private sector carve up of Dalston's "Cultural Quarter"

Tonight Hackney's Mayor and Cabinet will consider a report recommending that all decisions regarding selling off three sites in Dalston's "Cultural Quarter" to the private sector, should be delegated entirely to Council officers.  If approved, it means that the elected  Mayor and Councillor's will have no further say on any of the private deals reached and whether the public's interest has been properly secured.

Part of the former Tyer & Co railway engineering works at the back of the 10-14 Ashwin Street houses

As previously explained here,  the sites for sale comprise the three houses and the rear railway engineering works at 10-14 Ashwin St. In addition there are two vacant plots for development to be sold seperately or along with 10-14 Ashwin Street  - one at 2-8 Ashwin Street which Hackney demolished in 2010 and the second at 3-7 Ashwin St which was destroyed by bombs in World War II. Will there be a Council officer/private sector carve up of these sites without any democratic scrutiny?

 

Middle section of the former Tyer & Co railway engineering works at the back of the three houses at 10-14 Ashwin Street                        

The whole site at 10-14 Ashwin Street was purchased, in Hackney's name in 1985, with government grants and private charitable donations raised by the community educational charity Pyramid Arts Development Company Limited. Pyramid's aims were to encourage the arts including drama, ballet, music, singing, literature, sculpture and painting. It had a stellar line-up of creative people involved but sadly in 1994 financial difficulties forced its closure. (I'm told Hackney refused Pyramid a licence for live perfomance and a bar, so it became financially unviable Ed.). Since 2005 the buildings have been managed as artists studios by V22

Rear section of the former Tyer & Co railway engineering works overlooking the Eastern Curve Garden 

The UKGov grant to help purchase 10-14 Ashwin Street was intended to promote the arts for public benefit, and particularly to benefit the Black Community, not Hackney Council. But the report says Hackney will use the sale proceeds, not to promote the arts for public benefit, but "to bolster the financial resources allocated to projects within the Council's capital programme." It's Equality Impact Assessment states "No negative impacts have been identified as a result of this proposal". ( Hmmmm...As Hackney's Dudley Dryden said to me, when Hackney abandoned agreed plans for a Windrush African-Carribean Centre, "Even what they have will be taken away". Ed.)

Hackney is reported to have spent around £800,000 on doing major structural works and health and safety repairs to the engineering works over the last two years. But, just when its up for sale, Council officers are saying it's now unsafe, everyone must get out, and they are recommending purchasing £63,000 protective scaffolding to catch bits falling off the building.  Did the £800,000 come from Hackney's capital programme which now needs "bolstering". (Is the building more dangerous now than before Hackney spent a fortune on it? Ed.)

Also on the 10-14 Ashwin Street land is the Eastern Curve Garden's only indoor space -  its Hothouse meeting place, its office and a WC. The Council report speculates that "subject to survey and further ongoing investigations, to consider carving out this section" from the land to be sold. How will elected members ensure that the Garden's needs are protected if the private sector deal is left entirely to Council officers? There will be no democratic scrutiny or oversight.

The facades of Edwin Horner's three houses at 10-14 Ashwin Street which have been managed for promoting the creative arts since 1985.

10-14 Ashwin Street are townscape buildings within the Conservation Area and are locally listed as of special importance. The frontage 1870 houses were designed by notable Victorian railway architect Edwin Horne and the 1862 rear railway engineering works was where Tyer & Co produced their patented railway signalling system which was adopted thoughout England and in France.

  

Removal of the shabby white paint will reveal details on the facades including coloured brickwork banding, decorative stonework and barely twist metal columns

These buildings have been independently assessed by expert consultants to have HIGH industrial and architectural heritage value. Planning policies are in place which seek to protect historic architecture and creative uses but, if the site is acquired by mammonists, we can expect endless battles ahead trying to save our local cultural heritage

Local solicitor and founder of OPEN Dalston, Bill Parry-Davies, has written to Hackney's Cabinet raising these points and asking that his letter be given appropriate consideration. If you too have concerns, you can write to the Mayor of Hackney as well by emailing mayor@hackney.gov.uk

£63,000 Council scaffolding job to stitch up Dalston's "Cultural Quarter"

Next Monday Council officers are recommending Hackney buys £63,000 of scaffolding to erect in Ashwin Street, for health and safety, in case bits start falling off its buildings.  There's no price given for the cost of repairs to stop that happening. Or even any independent professional survey to be seen. Hackney are also recommending the outright sale of the buildings, privately, with vacant possession, for "best consideration". Everyone there's been told to get out.  (It does sound like a stich up. Ed.)

If you wanted to read the Hackney Council Cabinet Report, with more about the sell off and the £63,000 of scaffolding which could be arriving soon, you can't.  It's not published on Hackney's website. There's only rogue advance copies circulating marked Supplementary Papers II. 

Update: Hackney have published the report. It's here

True, scaffolding is not really news in Ashwin Street, We've seen it before in 2010, with Four Deaths and a Burial, when Hackney scaffolded and demolished the heritage terrace at 2-8 Ashwin Street. Hackney said it didn't realise that it had owned them since1977 as they gradually fell into dereliction . That site is now up for sale too. And the one opposite, destroyed by bombs in World War II ( I'm getting a sense of deja vue here. Ed.)

The management of Dalston's heritage and cultural buildings, including the Ashwin Street "Cultural Quarter", has been one of neglect, studied decay, sale and demolition. 

Edwin Horne's surviving 1870 Ashwin Street buildings are a fine legacy in Dalston. They should be revealed and cherished, not concealed by scaffolding as if awaiting some mortal fate.  

 (It's rumoured a load of scaffolding has fallen off the back of a lorry locally. Anybody else heard anything? Ed.)

Dalston's "Creative Quarter" and community Eastern Curve Garden are again officially at risk

On 24 March Hackney's Cabinet will be considering the sale of some family silver - sites it owns in Dalston's "Cultural Quarter". The sites include 10 -14 Ashwin Street, townscape buildings which are locally listed and in the Conservation Area. They are currently providing affordable studios for 30-40 artists and have a long cultural legacy, including performance arts, since the 1980s. The site also includes the Eastern Curve Garden's only indoor space - its "Hothouse" meeting place, office and toilet. How will the Garden survive if it loses those, on top of having a redevelopment site next door?

Cash strapped Hackney is said to be seeking a sales valuation based on demolition of the buildings and re-development as luxury flats. It has already said that all the artist tenants must leave by 1st April, because the buildings have suddenly become 'too unsafe' to remain. The Eastern Curve Garden is also partly on the site so a future purchaser could decide its Hothouse and facilities have to go too. 

The sell-off is part of a plan to privatise Dalston's "Cultural Quarter"sites first revealed in 2018. The buildings have a rich legacy of cultural and community benefit, but this has yet to be appropriately valued by Hackney. Responding to community outcry in 2018, Hackney's previous Mayor appeared concerned to ensure that preservation of the local heritage, culture, community benefit and affordable workspaces was fully considered. ( What has changed...will the new Mayor feel the same way? Ed.)

10 -14 Ashwin Street was designed by the eminent Victorian architect Edwin Horne in 1870. The frontages have decorative brick, stone and iron work detailing although these are presently disfigured by shabby white paint. Edwin Horne's other houses in Ashwin Street were demolished by World War II bombs and in 2010 by Hackney Council. He also designed the Reeves and Son Artists Colourworks at 18-22 Ashwin Street and the stations at Hackney Central and Grade II Listed Camden Road.

To the rear of 14 Ashwin St is the former engineering works of Tyer & Co who, in 1852, invented the railway signalling system which was adopted throughout the UK and in France. Consultants, instructed by Hackney, reported that this former factory is of HIGH historic value as forming  part of Hackney's industrial legacy.

Entrance to Ashwin St. off Dalston Lane around 1900 - the Railway Tavern's design is also attributed to Edwin Horne

Between 1985 and 1994 the buildings were occupied by the registered charity, Pyramid Arts Development. Pyramid had raised government and charitable grants to buy and renovate the building particularly for the Black community to teach and promote performance arts. The former Government Minster Sir George Young 6th Baronet personally visited to wish them well - as achive film footage reveals. But for some mysterious reason the buildings were bought in the Council's, and not in Pyramid's, name. Hackney seems to think there are now no charitable or other constraints against their sale. 

Pyramid's musicians included the Grammy Award nominee Steve Marshall, Lee 'Scratch' Perry and the American jazz prodigy Clifford Jarvis who mentored many British jazz musicians there. Early participants included internationally acclaimed  Courtney Pine - a founder of the Jazz Warriors.  Also in 1985, Deborah Baddoo MBE opened a dance studio there which focussed on dance and choreography. Since 2005, under V22's ongoing studio management, many eminent visual artists have benefitted from the facilities including Dame Phyllida Barlow DBE RA, Fernando Marques Penteado, Peter Kennard, Fergal Stapleton and others. 

Could Hackney's latest planning policies save the Cultural Quarter from destruction by the mammonists? The recent Hackney Plan 2033 aspires to protect the Eastern Curve Garden and to resist developers seeking to demolish heritage buildings and changing affordable and cultural uses into luxury flats. But the local cultural economy and heritage buildings are fragile. Even if a private developer promised to try and save the facades of 10-14 Ashwin Street, and give its scheme a new cultural gloss, public ownership and the local vibe will be lost. Like the houses of Dalston Terrace which were sold off, demolished and then re-built in "heritage likeness" with no affordable housing at all.

What can you do about this?

You could write to the newly elected  mayor@hackney.gov.uk  to express any concerns which you have. Does 10 - 14 Ashwin St really need to be sold? If so, couldn't there be a binding condition for refurbishment only and for continuing cultural uses? Doesn't obtaining "best value" include valuing existing social and community benefits as part of the reckoning?

This short 2018 film "Dalston Arts 150" reveals Dalston's 150 year long association with the arts and Hackney's original plan to sell off Dalston's Cultural Quarter sites to "maximise capital value and rental revenue for the Council". That plan could now be realised - the privatisation and loss of public cultural spaces.