The group who have been running Hamilton House for the last 10 years have been given 24 hours notice of a management takeover which comes into force tomorrow (Tuesday).
Social enterprise Coexist has managed the rooms above the Canteen on Stokes Croft since 2008, renting cheap space to artists and community groups.
In that time the abandoned office block has become a cultural hub, helping to transform Stokes Croft into the buzzing destination it is now known.
But this morning the team were given notice that a new organisation - Forward Space - would be taking over the management of Hamilton House from tomorrow.
The move marks the end of long and fraught negotiations between Coexist and the building owners Connolly and Callaghan (C&C) over the future of Hamilton House.
The takeover was initially revealed in August this year when it was announced that Forward Space, which runs a number of coworking spaces in the southwest, would manage the hub on a temporary basis while the owners find a permanent solution.
Hamilton House has been at the centre of an ongoing row about the future of the whole area with many locals worried it could be developed into flats, robbing Stokes Croft of much of its creative community.
C&C is currently waiting for a decision from the planning inspectorate on an application to develop part of Hamilton House into residential units.
Under the plans, Block A - which contains The Canteen and DMAC Dance Studio - would remain unchanged.
But Blocks B and C, which have traditionally been work spaces for artists, would have planning permission to be turned into homes.
Bristol City Council blocked the plans in December, but developer Sustainable Britain – part of Connolly & Callaghan Group, which owns the building – applied to the Government’s planning inspector to overturn the decision.
It is believed that a decision is imminent and could see the landmark building changed for good.
If the appeal is upheld C&C has said it would use cash made from the residential scheme to refurbish the rest of the building.
However this has done little to abate the fears and concerns of tenants who think the takeover will eventually mean that artists and tenants will have to leave and outreach programmes will be stopped.
Some artists have already been packing up to leave the building today because they do not want to sign a new lease with C&C.
Unfortunately Coexist has not responded to requests for comment, but a statement on the Hamilton House Facebook page confirmed that Coexist had been served notice of its management lease.
It said: “The notice is addressed to Coexist CIC, the company behind Hamilton House who have been managing the building for the last ten years (artist studios, office spaces, events, gallery/shop, wellbeing, dance studios).
“Today Coexist was served notice, meaning that from tomorrow, we will no longer be managing the building.
“The landlords C&C have formed a limited company (HaHo) that will be taking over from tomorrow, managed by Forward Space on a temporary basis.
“They will offer contracts to current licensees and some licensees might choose to leave the building if they do not wish to sign with HaHo.
“In the long-term artists will probably have to leave, outreach programmes will stop, the gallery and shop will disappear.”
Many who support Coexist were upset to discover it had been given just one day’s notice of the takeover.
But C&C has said the handover of management has been discussed in detail with Coexist over the past two-and-a-half months.
The firm said the takeover would allow Coexist to concentrate on its strength of organising community outreach programmes.
A spokesperson for the C&C said that Coexist has been offered a sub-lease of community outreach spaces at a significantly subsidised rent until the end of the year.
This will allow it to go ahead with planned events already arranged up until December 31 - however after that time it is uncertain what would happen.
C&C also claim it has agreed a financial support package for Coexist, to help with restructuring costs.
The spokesperson added: “Forward Space are in the process of issuing sub-leases and licences to the existing occupiers of Hamilton House, at the same rents they are currently on, providing greater stability and security for them for the next six months than they have enjoyed in the past.”
Forward Space has been given an initial six-month contract on Hamilton House while the long-term future of the site is determined. It is now managing Block A and Block B.
Fran Connolly, from C&C, said: “Forward Space has a proven pedigree of managing successful community work hubs and we believe they have the expertise to continue the development of Hamilton House as a viable, creative, hub that benefits the local community, whilst a long-term solution is sought.
“C&C has financially supported Coexist for nine years but cannot commit to continuing this without a financially viable plan.”
A long-running campaign was launched by protesters to stop the C&C takeover.
The group, called Save Hamiltion House, has staged dozens of protests and gathered more than 3,000 likes on Facebook.
Today they posted on Facebook: "24hr notice is ridiculous and unethical but C&C don't give a sh*t about that and here it is, one day left of Coexist / Hamilton House as we know it
