What next?

The Log Cabin has stood empty for over a year now, Manukau City Council has merged into the Auckland Super Council and the CCO for Community Tenancies has remained intact. There appears to be safety in Corporate Structure and the Policy I understand is to better manage the Coucil assets. However how has this the served the community???

There has recently been some activity triggered by the concern over vacancy, emptiness, non-use. Interestingly the CCO has opted to brighten things up.

On the one hand I love the effect of the new paint job and it does make the space more inviting- notice in earlier posts the burgundy/ darkwood stained walls. On the other hand this is not what was discussed with the community concerned with the historical preservation of the building. What was discussed was a new kitchen bench but the walls were to be sanded back to the lighter shade and sealed retaining the natural feel.

From my personal perspective I am sad at the lack of respect while I have to look forward and agree the new paint job has done wonders for the space.

What next?

The Art Society has washed its hands of the space, the Hobbies Group ladies have moved to the local Baptist Church and are happy there, The other users have disbanded not wanting the full lease.

Me I thought I could walk away but alas I love this building and I have ideas of what could be possible. Let us see what comes I look forward to the next post.

Meanwhile here are a few photos of the new paint job and kitchen sink and cupboards. Also something I forgot to mention in previous posts was the importance of the new path way. The third photo shows this. It goes all the way to the front door with no steps and has a side path off to the toilet which makes disability access better than before.

A New Chapter

A lot has happened in the last six months. Sadly the mechanisms of council and public corporate restructuring have put changes in motion. Our Log Cabin was inspected in July by the community tenancy coordinator of the Manukau City Council. At this checkup she spoke of the need for a new formal lease.

To cut a long saga short the lease proposal put forward requires our not-for-profit society to front up for an annual lease of NZD $14,000 when our current yearly income is lest the NZD $1000.

The Maraetai Beachlands Arts & Crafts Society members held a vote and rejected the Manukau City Council's offered lease so as of 31st January 2010 we are out.

This is the end of the era which began in 1976 when this society first took up a peppercorn lease on the Council building. We used to pay $16 a year. All electricity is paid separately by us and insurances.

The Council restructuring in that time has changed drastically and now the land on which this building is situated is under a separate Manukau 'Parks' entity from the corporate Manukau CCO (Council Controlled Organisation) which governs with user pays policies for community facilities. Ironically half of the $14,000 is what the CCO pays the Parks in rates ie, Manukau City Council is paying itself. The other half is what the Council pays the contractor who checks the water is potable once a week.

My personal hope is that our vacating this building does not place it back in line for demolition because I cannot see who will agree to take on this outragious lease in our stead.

Activities Update

Just an update

Activities @ The Log Cabin

Tuesday mornings during school term the Log Cabin Hobbies Group meets to make handcrafted items to be raffled for our emergency services.
Come along and join them from 9.30 am till 11.30 am and enjoy a cup of tea for 30c.

Wednesday morning Jacqueline's Art Class come along and learn to paint or draw 9 am till 11.30 and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee as class rounds up. $20 per session.

Wednesday evenings during school term come along and enjoy a Buddhist discussion group.

Thursday afternoon come along and join the Card 500 Players, this is a nice social card playing group, have a game and enjoy a cup of tea.

Friday mornings, come and join the Mosaic artists group this is a social group for mosaicists to meet and work this group is not a tuition session and the cost is $5 per week.

The New Look Beachlands Log Cabin

Sunkist Bay at sunset view from Log Cabin car park

The Log Cabin as is looks now!!

The other buildings on the reserve were demolished last year.

The Beachlands Log Cabin re-piling project was completed about a year ago now, Like most public works the good work was all done on the outside and surprise surprise very little done on the inside. The area arround the Log Cabin was cleared of two dilapidated buildings making the space far more welcoming.

What was meant to be done:
1. Clean lichen moss etc off roof
2. Sand down, prepare and repaint all exterior, including barge boards. Remove rot in porch step at front.
3. Jack up building, replace rotting/deficient piles with new.
4. Remove chimney, install concrete pad and replace chimney onto it
5. Sand down and thoroughly prepare all interior surfaces and repaint.
6. Replace bench in kitchen with stainless steel, including new sink and taps
7. Incorporate stove into bench
8. Install new cupboards under bench
9. Windows may need easing and re-hanging following the leveling and repiling of the building

What was actually done:
1. Lichen moss etc cleaned off roof
2. Exterior wall water blasted and painted, including barge boards. Rot removed in porch step at front, and most of the bottom exterior logs.
3. Jack up building, replace rotting/deficient piles with new.
4. Chimney collapsed due to zero support when building was lifted see photo below, install concrete pad and replace chimney onto it
5. The windows were covered in perspex sheilds to prevent the ongoing vandalism of the smaller window pains.

The most important reason to celebrate is that the Manukau City Council did not demolish it.

News:

The Maraetai Beachlands Arts & Crafts Society Incorporated is now in discussion with council over a possible formal Tenancy Lease. The Society has been in an informal lease arrangement with Council since 1977.

A Face Lift.

Hooray!

This November/December has been a buzz of work done to get me back in shape. The Manukau City Council has had my foundations repiled. This was done by lifting me a metre and a half off the ground and then putting me back down on a better leveled foundation. The one thing that did not go according to plan was the old stone Chimney which collapsed. Due to the unexpected cost and difficulty of arranging for stone masons to rebuild this Chimney the overall length of time spent on the face lift went from four weeks to two and a bit months, all is well that ends well.

Whats happening?

It is now May 2007 and in the last month and a bit there has been a bit of progress on the restoration front. Important people have come to visit me and the prescription is as follows:

1. Clean lichen moss etc off roof
2. Sand down, prepare and repaint all exterior, including barge boards.
Remove rot in porch step at front.
3. Jack up building, replace rotting/deficient piles with new.
4. Remove chimney, install concrete pad and replace chimney onto it
5. Sand down and thoroughly prepare all interior surfaces and repaint.
6. Replace bench in kitchen with stainless steel, including new sink and taps
7. Incorporate stove into bench
8. Install new cupboards under bench
9. Windows may need easing and re-hanging following the leveling and repiling of the building

There is no guarantee as to how much of this work will be done, because it will depend largely on how much it costs. Estimates have previously been $40, 000 and the budgets have been suggested at $20, 000 I hope I will get more than half fixed....

Meanwhile the everyday activities continue the Hobbies ladies have begun their new project, the painter's meet fortnightly and would welcome some new company, the art classes are back on for this term.

The Hobbies Group meet on Tuesday mornings they chat and share a cup of tea while working on various projects sometimes for them selves and then at other times they work on a collaborative project which is raffled to raise money for worthwhile causes.

I thought it would be nice to show you a quilt they produced which raised money for the First Response and Beachlands Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Applause!!!!

The motifs of this quilt are all native New Zealand flowers and the individual leaves and petals were all buttonhole stitched. Just wonderful.

The Hobbies Group will be making a Rag Rug next, anyone is welcome to join.

Great News!

Hip Hip Hooray!!!

This last Monday evening the Clevedon Community Board passed a recommendation that says

"9. That the Property Unit proceeds with improvement works to the Log Cabin as an urgent project in the 2006/07 programme."

This means I can look forward to a face lift (soon) and that should ensure I stay standing just a little longer than otherwise.

l.o.l. to all those out there who care,
Cheers.

The Log Cabin

P.S. The Log Cabin Arts Collective looks set to be up and running by July 2007 .
The Clevedon Community Boards study also comments that

The Beachlands Hall could include a focus on visual arts, with the possibility of some low cost building development on the land behind the hall to provide for art work and pottery.