New Landlord announced (December 2001)

At the Gracemount Maisonettes Tenants Group (GMTG) AGM on 3rd October, local tenants had the opportunity of meeting their new landlord, Dunedin Housing Association. GMTG Chair Elaine Shirley introduced Ewan Fraser, Chief Executive of Dunedin, who thanked the Group for selecting them from an original field of 8 contenders.

He, in turn, introduced the team who will, in partnership with the tenants, implement the Neighbourhood Plan. The remaining 5 blocks will be demolished and replaced by front and back door houses, with building work due to begin next April.

In her Annual Report, Elaine had paid tribute to her GMTG colleagues for their hard work over the last two years. The Group had employed an Architect, Alan McNichol of ASSIST, and an Independent Tenant Advisor, Tony Graham of ODS. Together they had produced a detailed Neighbourhood Plan and, after a very lengthy process, selected a landlord to deliver it. Elaine also thanked the SERT Project for its support.

Norma Whitson, the Group's Treasurer, then presented the Annual Accounts and Alan briefly described the Neighbourhood Plan. Local Councillor, Donald Anderson, added his thanks to the local community, who had put up with a lot of upheaval in recent years. Whilst vandalism and drug abuse still presented problems locally, much had been achieved e.g. unemployment figures were down, a new swimming pool had arrived, a new High School was to be built, along with 2 new 5-a-side football pitches and a new medical centre. Finally, the Council was looking into the feasibility of making improvements to Garvald, Fala and Soutra Courts, both in terms of physical improvements and changes in the management of the blocks.

The evening's business finished with Elaine making an appeal to local tenants to join GMTG; refreshments were then taken, with Group members and Dunedin staff looking forward to working together to transform Gracemount Drive.

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