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There is growing concern about the future of one of Brixton’s longest\u00a0housing co-ops as the council appear to be conspiring to evict\u00a0residents from Carlton Mansions on Coldharbour Lane.<\/p>\n
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Run by the Carlton Mansions Housing Co-operative, the four-storey\u00a0Victorian building has existed as a \u201cShort Life\u201d Housing co-op\u00a0since the late Seventies, and is easily recognised by the iconic ‘Nuclear Dawn<\/a>‘ CND\u00a0mural on the side of the building.<\/p>\n The detached block stands right in the middle of major redevelopment\u00a0plans<\/a> which would see the complete rebuilding of Somerleyton Road and\u00a0the construction of a new theatre adjacent to the mansion block.<\/p>\n Although the council has already publicly pledged to help sustain “resilient communities,<\/a>”\u00a0it seems that the prime location of Carlton Mansions is fuelling\u00a0what seems a hasty desire to kick out its occupants.<\/p>\n Oh, wait, it’s suddenly got a ‘fire problem’<\/b><\/p>\n Key to this is the council’s fire assessment – something that the\u00a0residents say is a “strangely inaccurate assessment inappropriate to\u00a0the building” – and they say this can be backed up by independent\u00a0advice they’ve received.<\/p>\n Seeing as the council have been happy to leave the building alone for so\u00a0many years, some suspect that they’re simply looking for a handy\u00a0excuse to evict its occupants swiftly under the pretence of being\u00a0concerned about their welfare.<\/p>\n It also seems a little odd that a self proclaimed co-operative council\u00a0should appear so keen to evict the kind of co-operative housing that\u00a0embodies the very values they’re trying to embrace.<\/p>\n If they do kick out the residents, will they rehouse them? And where?<\/p>\n [Carlton <\/em>Mansions, Nov 2000]<\/em><\/p>\n Brixton for sale<\/b><\/p>\n With a seemingly unstoppable landgrab by developers snatching up much\u00a0of what gave Brixton its unique character, I’m not entirely convinced\u00a0that the best interests of local people are being put first here.<\/p>\n After seeing how Lambeth acquiesced to Barratts Homes<\/a>‘ wriggling over\u00a0their affordable housing commitments<\/a> at the nearby Brixton Square\u00a0development<\/a>, this is looking like another council fudge.<\/p>\n Perhaps they can come out and make a statement and explain exactly\u00a0what is going on at\u00a0Carlton\u00a0Mansions and explain how their plans fit\u00a0in with their notion of Lambeth being a cooperative council.<\/p>\n True to their word?<\/strong><\/p>\n I’m happy to see Brixton changing and money being invested, but long-term residents should be protected – as should those ‘resilient communities’ that Lambeth likes to bang on about.<\/p>\n What’s\u00a0happening\u00a0at Carlton Mansions may well prove a crucial test of their real commitment to being a true co-operative\u00a0council. I hope they honour their commitments.<\/p>\n Find out more:<\/strong><\/p>\n Discuss this on\u00a0urban75 bulletin boards<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and read some background on this thread:\u00a0Council plan to redevelop Somerleyton Road.<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>The SLP also has a rather depressing piece about\u00a0Lambeth’s flogging off of short-life housing<\/a>.<\/p>\n The most excellent Brixton Bugle newspaper (which will be out tomorrow morning) will be running a full feature on \u00a0Carlton\u00a0Mansions. See where you can pick one up on their BrixtonBlog website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Location:<\/strong><\/p>\n Some background:<\/strong><\/p>\n Description of Carlton Mansions in Lambeth\u00a0Council’s\u00a0Brixton Masterplan: Section 5 – 24\/07\/2009<\/a> [PDF file]:<\/p>\n This part of Coldharbour Lane is home to a rich history of \u2018short-life\u2019 \u00a0and squatter settlements, densely populated by Brixton\u2019s artistic community.<\/p>\n Carlton Mansions is a lasting legacy of Brixton\u2019s shortlife settlement, displaying a large exterior mural as homage to the building\u2019s artistic and creative community. Adjacent sites were also\u00a0the initial homes of movements such as Cooltan Arts and Reclaim the Streets and Southwyck House is well known for it\u2019s role in the area\u2019s squatter and short-life movements.<\/p>\n There are currently no formal cultural facilities in the study area, however a number of collectives still exist with links to the short-life and arts movements<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Carlton Mansions Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n Also: \u00a0Selling Central Brixton to Yuppies<\/a><\/strong> UPDATE 30th April 2013:<\/strong>![\"Carlton](\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/carlton-mansions-brixton-2.jpg\")
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\n Brixton community under threat from greedy developers – prescient\u00a02003 article<\/a><\/p>\n
\nBrixton Carlton Mansions housing co-op faces court meeting \u2013 please give them your help and support \u2013 urgent!<\/a><\/p>\n