Seaforth TAFE site - New Tenant

Seaforth's abandoned TAFE site will finally return to life with Manly Council set to sign a redevelopment deal.

The council and healthcare provider Bupa Care Services are close to an agreement on converting the existing building into a a 76-bed aged care facility.

Bupa finance director David Warren said the new facility would be state-of-the-art and be one of the first in Australia to have its own dedicated GP.

The 5000 sqm site will also house a community hub and meeting spaces, including a reading room, to be provided by Manly Council. The council will also build collaborative workspace for technology innovation, while Bupa will provide additional community facilities.

Seaforth TAFE was closed in 1999 despite fierce community opposition. The site has remained untenanted ever since with the buildings becoming hopelessly vandalised and run down.

Last year Manly Council purchased the site from the State Government for the markdown price of $4.5 million (for a site valued at $11 million) on the condition that it would be used for community purposes.

The council has since undertaken a major clean-up and rejuvenation of the site and has been seeking an anchor tenant to move into the building with the view that their contribution would subsidise the provision of general community facilities in part of the building.

Good for Manly congratulates the council on its work so far to transform this former eyesore into a workable community space with the creation of the Seaforth Piazza and other community facilities to come.

What would you like to see on the new community site? Let us know here.

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