Newark residents are excited to see an "eyesore" transform into new apartments but have concerns over where the new inhabitants will park. JYD Holdings have been given the go ahead to transform a former Victorian wool warehouse on Victoria Street into 39 residential units.
In addition to the units there will also be a yoga studio, co-working spaces, electrical charging points and a courtyard. The building has an interesting history, starting as a wool warehouse and became pine manufacturer and then bricklaying workshop and training school before becoming vacant.
This is the first project that JYD Holdings has embarked on in Newark, and they are targeting the units primarily at young professionals. Residents are looking forward to seeing something being done with the building, but do have concerns about where potential residents would park as Victoria Street is a main road.
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Retired, Jane Harrild, 63, of Newark, said: "I'm a bit worried about parking. I don't think there will be enough parking for 39 residents and parking on this street is a real issue. We do have resident permits but other people can park without a permit for two hours." When asked her thoughts on the building in its current state, Jane said: "It's a bit of an eyesore as it is."
When asked his thoughts on the approved plans, retired, Nick Alexander, 72, of Newark, said: "It's a good idea we need apartments, the only problem is parking. I haven't seen any plans or anything but it won't be the street.
Nick continued: "The streets around here are resident parking meaning everyone parks on our street. If this place doesn't have any parking that would be a problem."
Retired, Jane Clarke, 58, of Newark, said: "Anything is better than nothing. It's a bit of an eyesore just now." When asked his thoughts on the building, company officer, Neil Garton, 43, of Newark, said: "I thought it was some sort of place where people did YTS skills to learn something."
Neil continued: "I think they will have to build a car park somewhere. It seems to have this row here, but will it be enough." Mother of two, Andreea Morarescu, 27, of Newark, said: "It will be nice to see something done with it as it's a nice building and has a lot of potential, but I think parking could be a problem."
When asked his thoughts on the potential residential units, Asda crew member, Lewis Ohanrahan, 25, of Newark, said: "I personally think its one of the smarter projects they could have chosen for this place. Different houses pop up all the time but apartments blocks and things like that don't."
Lewis added: "It's on the main road so I would be seriously concerned for those who want to live here and park. Maybe turning this (gestures to small street parking area) into a blue meter parking just for residents because I'm not exactly sue where else they can park."
Support planner, Tracie Smithson, 56, of Newark, remembers going to the building when she was eight or nine years old. She said: "When I was to go there it used to be a ballroom, they did dance lessons in there."
When asked what she thought of the building turning into residential units, Tracie said: "That would be fabulous. It's always been really scruffy, I bet in its day it used to be a nice building."
Work on the building will begin in August 2022, and it is estimated to be completed by December 2023.
