Estate revamp rebuilding more than just homes
nlnews@archant.co.uk15 August 2007
OLD MEETS NEW: the new homes are being built just yards from the old Market Estate blocks RESIDENTS on one of Islington's most notorious estates are watching their new homes with balconies and gardens spring up yards from the decaying blocks they will soon leave behind.Demolition work on the first 12 flats to come down on the Market Estate only began last week, but 50 families have already moved into their new homes and another 90 will do so by the end of next month.
HAPPY MOVER - Maggie Veal And those who are now living in their newly-built properties say the groundbreaking project has already transformed their lives, and is slowly helping to rebuild the community spirit that has been so badly eroded by the vandals, prostitutes and crack dealers.Maggie Veal, 66, moved into her new ground floor flat a month ago, having lived in one of the old blocks for 35 years."When I go back in the old block I think 'I can't believe I lived there'. Now I live in a street property I get people dropping by all the time. It's great. It's like a real community. "No-one talked to each other that much in the old blocks, but it's changed now. It's like going back to the 1950s, when everyone knew each other."Maggie's late husband Jim was one of the driving forces behind the plans for the new estate in his position as head of the Market Estate Tenants' and Residents' Association (Metra). One of the newly created streets will be named Jim Veal Drive in his memory. Another will be named Chris Pullen Way, after the former resident who was tragically killed in 2000 at the age of 12 when a door fell on his head as he played on the estate.Ms Veal said: "Jim loved the plans. He fought for what he thought was right for residents and he would have loved the way things are turning out. It's a pity he's not here to see it."Ray Maxey, an 80-year-old retired cabbie, also moved out of the Southdown block and into his new flat overlooking Caledonian Park a month ago. He said: "The last year I was in Southdown I got depressed. As soon as I knew about the move I started packing."I absolutely love it. It feels like home and I'm sleeping well. I'm so much happier here."The new estate is being designed over a series of tree-lined streets linking North Road to Caledonian Park. The new blocks will form a crescent around the edge of the under-used park and the historic clocktower, both of which will become a popular place to visit, it is hoped.Stephen Ross, project director for Southern Housing, the housing association behind the demolition and rebuild project, said: "Our vision is to open up the park to the community. "As well as the new playground, we would like to see a café, proper toilets and maybe a resource centre to teach kids about the history of the park. It would be great if there was some access to the clocktower viewing gallery the views are amazing." It is hoped that the £40million project will see all the residents of the 271 flats on the estate in their new homes by 2010. But even those who haven't moved say they are feeling the benefits.Sherry Asokomhe, Metra committee member, said: "We've had to put up with prostitution, drugs, people shouting and kids on mopeds riding up and down all night. But already there is less vandalism and noise. "In the last four months things have started to change because people can see what's happening. The people who have moved into their new flats are happy and everyone else can see there's something to look forward to.
nlnews@archant.co.uk15 August 2007
OLD MEETS NEW: the new homes are being built just yards from the old Market Estate blocks RESIDENTS on one of Islington's most notorious estates are watching their new homes with balconies and gardens spring up yards from the decaying blocks they will soon leave behind.Demolition work on the first 12 flats to come down on the Market Estate only began last week, but 50 families have already moved into their new homes and another 90 will do so by the end of next month.
HAPPY MOVER - Maggie Veal And those who are now living in their newly-built properties say the groundbreaking project has already transformed their lives, and is slowly helping to rebuild the community spirit that has been so badly eroded by the vandals, prostitutes and crack dealers.Maggie Veal, 66, moved into her new ground floor flat a month ago, having lived in one of the old blocks for 35 years."When I go back in the old block I think 'I can't believe I lived there'. Now I live in a street property I get people dropping by all the time. It's great. It's like a real community. "No-one talked to each other that much in the old blocks, but it's changed now. It's like going back to the 1950s, when everyone knew each other."Maggie's late husband Jim was one of the driving forces behind the plans for the new estate in his position as head of the Market Estate Tenants' and Residents' Association (Metra). One of the newly created streets will be named Jim Veal Drive in his memory. Another will be named Chris Pullen Way, after the former resident who was tragically killed in 2000 at the age of 12 when a door fell on his head as he played on the estate.Ms Veal said: "Jim loved the plans. He fought for what he thought was right for residents and he would have loved the way things are turning out. It's a pity he's not here to see it."Ray Maxey, an 80-year-old retired cabbie, also moved out of the Southdown block and into his new flat overlooking Caledonian Park a month ago. He said: "The last year I was in Southdown I got depressed. As soon as I knew about the move I started packing."I absolutely love it. It feels like home and I'm sleeping well. I'm so much happier here."The new estate is being designed over a series of tree-lined streets linking North Road to Caledonian Park. The new blocks will form a crescent around the edge of the under-used park and the historic clocktower, both of which will become a popular place to visit, it is hoped.Stephen Ross, project director for Southern Housing, the housing association behind the demolition and rebuild project, said: "Our vision is to open up the park to the community. "As well as the new playground, we would like to see a café, proper toilets and maybe a resource centre to teach kids about the history of the park. It would be great if there was some access to the clocktower viewing gallery the views are amazing." It is hoped that the £40million project will see all the residents of the 271 flats on the estate in their new homes by 2010. But even those who haven't moved say they are feeling the benefits.Sherry Asokomhe, Metra committee member, said: "We've had to put up with prostitution, drugs, people shouting and kids on mopeds riding up and down all night. But already there is less vandalism and noise. "In the last four months things have started to change because people can see what's happening. The people who have moved into their new flats are happy and everyone else can see there's something to look forward to.
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