Children focus for Campbell Free Kindy

The sound of children's laughter may once again fill the empty rooms of Campbell Free Kindergarten at Victoria Park, but those hoping to smell coffee brewing will be disappointed.

Public consultation held by the Waitemata Local Board in May indicated an overwhelming desire to open the newly restored historic building for a mix of commercial and community uses.

"The report shows a preference for some form of art use and/or children's focus use in line with its history," says Waitemata Local Board chairman Shale Chambers.

The report, by Ben Parsons and Associates for Auckland Council, shows 40 per cent of the respondents want a mix of community and commercial use for the space. "There was minority support for some form of cafe use for the rear half. It could open a vendors' space for icecream or a cafe," says Mr Chambers.

A cafe was mentioned the most as a suitable commercial activity because of the old kindergarten's parkside location. However, Mr Chambers says the board has been advised the premises are actually too small for a commercial operation where cooking takes place.

"So we've closed that option off and we're seeking expressions of interest on a purely community-lease basis."

The historic Campbell Free Kindergarten has been restored by the council and the NZ Transport Agency after more than 20 years of neglect.

The architects have stayed true to the building's original features by referring to old photos, stripping paint on the walls to find a match, and replicating grills, banisters and windows wherever they could.

The restoration is part of the NZTA's Victoria Park Tunnel project, and a third of the building houses the standby electrical and communications systems for the 450m tunnel.

Auckland Council owns the other parts of the building.

Those who pitched ideas in their submissions said a mixed use of the building would ensure it remained occupied. There were fears that if the building was used exclusively as a community space it might be left vacant and vulnerable to vandalism.

Opinions were divided evenly about whether to use the space for community meetings and activities targeted at children and young people.

Suggestions included a venue for arts and theatre, a space for heritage displays, a movie theatre and even an interactive Museum of Childhood, similar to that in Dublin.

Another suggestion was to set up an urban environment centre similar to EcoMatters in West Auckland and the Kaipatiki project on the North Shore. "An urban environment centre would address a huge gap in Auckland, addressing environmental issues as they relate to our increasingly urbanised population and providing a hub for inner-city residents and commuters and visitors to the city," says one respondent.

Mr Chambers says formal expressions of interest will be sought from potential tenants of the building, which first opened in 1910.

"We're seeking expressions of interest on a purely community-lease basis andgiving preference to those that will have the greatest community use."

Survey Says

About 100 people gave feedback. All agreed that the Campbell Free Kindy restoration is a good example of a successful heritage building restoration. Suggestions for its use:

- cafe/restaurantice-cream kiosk

-arts space: theatre space, performance space, poetry jams, story telling nights, creative company residences, writers' retreat, exhibition/art gallery space, music programmes

-space for community groups to hire

-something for children: kindergarten, after school care, children's music/drama/arts programmes, museum of childhood

-something that incorporates Victoria Park: sports equipment rental kiosk, bike hire

- something that reflects and celebrates Auckland's heritage: history centre, information centre, environment centre

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