Liverpool, Merseyside -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/02/2012 -- A college owned by Sir Paul McCartney has come to the rescue, saving John Lennon’s world-famous art college from being turned into apartments. Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) has struck a £3.7m deal to buy 68 Hope Street, the grade 2 listed former art college building, which famously houses the lecture hall where Lennon met his first wife, Cynthia. Managing Director of Gateway Merseyside commented this week, calling the building a “piece of Liverpool and Britain’s history.” The MD of Gateway Merseyside added that they were surprised that the building was to be redeveloped at all.
The building, dating back to the 1880s, was destined to be turned into luxury flats as part of a controversial £100m proposal by Maghull Developments. Now the building, where art student Lennon met best friend and original Beatles bassist Stuart Sutcliffe in the 1950s, will be retained for education, thanks to the intervention of LIPA.
LIPA, which opened in 1995, is housed in Sir Paul and George Harrison’s old grammar school, the Liverpool Institute for Boys. Principal and chief executive Mark Featherstone-Witty – who co-founded LIPA with patron Sir Paul – said there were sound business reasons behind the deal, beyond the “romance” of bringing two Beatles-linked buildings together.
He said the multi-storey Georgian Quarter venue provided more than 5,000 sq m of extra space, which would secure LIPA's future growth and keep it “at the forefront of performing arts institutions,” adding, “There are sound business reasons why we are buying the building next door, but there is no denying the romance of bringing together two buildings where three Beatles once did their learning.”
Our source at Gateway Merseyside said, “Of course it’s going to be more beneficial to have this building become a centre of education, rather than some more luxury apartments, and it will boost the economy too. I don’t think it would be in the spirit of Liverpool’s rich musical history to let a building like this be repurposed into something irrelevant to its past.”
Lennon attended the art college between 1957-60, and legend has it that he used to play Buddy Holly covers with his band, The Quarrymen, in the college canteen. He also liked to unwind in the nearby Ye Cracke pub. The deal is sure to be welcomed by the area’s arts community, which feared losing the building to apartments would undermine the city’s cultural heritage. Although contracts have been signed, LIPA is due to complete the purchase from Maghull Developments on Friday, March 30.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing what LIPA does with the building,” said the MD of Gateway Merseyside, “The institute is already such a positive part of the culture and economy of the city.”
LIPA currently trains 693 degree and 62 foundation certificate students, as well as offering part-time performing arts classes for young people through its youth academy.
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2012/03/26/paul-mccartney-s-liverpool-fame-school-rescues-beatles-pal-john-lennon-s-art-college-from-apartments-plan-99623-30624460/
http://www.prlog.org/11828968-gateway-mersey-comments-as-liverpool-steams-ahead-with-development-plan.html
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gateway-Merseyside/344116718938618