I was sitting in the Methodist chapel in the late summer when I had a vision.
The building is for sale and the museum doesn’t appear to want it.
Could it provide new spaces for older people to live in, designed by and for them individually?
No narrow steep stairs, no uneven floors, no draughty windows and doors, but warm homes with easy access, good kitchens and bathrooms in a building which fits in Church Square but is of its time, just like the chapel when it was built. Same size footprint, same height, same magnificent views to the sea and to St Mary’s.
No need to cram in lots of little flats, just a few. All the simple changes to accommodate the displeasures of age, storage space for the treasures of life. No bending down to reach electricity points, a lift to access all properties, wide doors, benches in showers and useful handles.
The adventurous could purchase their own space and design their own home. That would be an interesting challenge to keep brains active.
Long standing Rye residents who moved in would stay local but would release a desirable home for someone new to move into.
It would be an interesting challenge for a developer, architects and Rother planners and it could craft a different path to new homes which are desired by locals, not forced upon them.
Discuss…
Image Credits: David Worwood .
Interesting idea – conversion to flats for local old people.
Excuse me for being cynical but a desirable property conversion in Church Square? Who, exactly will be able to afford to live in the citadel of Rye?
It’ll be snapped up by a developer and sold as second homes or holiday lets.
Vision? More a dream.
Looking at the price of flats currently on sale in Rye,more than a terraced house in South Undercliffe, sadly this town is now tailored for the rich elderly, with no thought or concern,for young people who were born here.
I’m sure those in Church Square will not be pleased to see apartments in that or any other building within their historic area, another problem not yet mentioned is where are the owners going to park their cars, parking is very limited in that area already without an extra block of flats.
Who in their right mind would buy a flat/apartment call it what you like for the amount of money that will be wanted and not get off road parking.
It’s been suggested that it would make ideal accommodation for the elderly, almost nonexistent pathing, cobbled roads and at the top of the hill doesn’t look very ideal to me.
It would make a nice restaurant/cafe with a steady stream of visitors always in the area, not that I can see that going down very well with the locals who live in the immediate area.