Plans for Takapuna’s first youth centre on the table

A local board chair is proposing a multi-million dollar makeover to turn an abandoned RSA into a youth centre.

Joseph Bergin, the chair of Devonport-Takapuna Local Board, said Auckland Council is open to expressions of interest for the Northcote Road site in Takapuna, after a decade of rejections.

This is only because the council rephrased the discussion and has taken the ratepayer’s money out of the conversation, he said.

“The council’s contribution is going to be next to nothing. We’re going to rely on a new foundation to take over the building and manage everything for us.”

If his expectations are fulfilled, Mr Bergin would push for the “Rolls Royce model” of refurbishment which he estimates to be between $2.5 to 3 million.

“We could add a balcony, fit out a recording studio, a computer lab, quiet places for study, potentially phone booths for Youthline.

“Admittedly the council will pay very little. We’ll be relying on the philanthropic community and it is important that it is adjustable and malleable so we don’t have to constantly rip out walls.”

In the past, money has been the main tool used as an argument against the creation of a youth centre.

However, Mr Bergin said thanks to the reliance on a another party to provide the costs, all they are providing is a site that at some point will return to the council.

“Yes, we own the building. Yes, we own the land, but it’s just a lease.”

Three years ago, 14 other sites were investigated but were considered unsuitable.

The RSA was not one of these sites, but when it went bankrupt 18 months ago, Mr Bergin said the council decided to look into it and found it met the requirements.

Youthline is one group who has expressed interest in the building.

Brianna Hill, Youthline's communication manager, said their spaces in Grey Lynn and Manukau have cost the ratepayer nothing, and if they do end up looking after this space, Youthline will apply a similar model.

Ms Hill said the organisation cares about the individual, young or old. “We’re interested in creating community spaces, not just youth spaces.”

Mr Bergin said the council is hoping for multiple expressions of interest and is open to the possibility of a collaborative space.

Auckland Council’s participation with the project finishes at the end of June. If the council wants to repurpose the building then they have to make their decision by July 1.

“There’s a lot of focus at the moment. We’re expecting a big decision to be made in the middle of the year.”

And Takapuna might not be waiting too long for their very own youth centre.

“I’m encouraged that once we sign the lease they’ll move a lot faster than if it was a council-run project,” said Mr Bergin.