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The Grace Street Project: 
bringing our community together, creating opportunity.

The Grace Street Project is a community-driven initiative to provide a mixed-use, all-weather venue in south Invercargill. It will be a place of community pride and a place of turangawaewae.

We have purchased a large, abandoned building in the heart of south Invercargill and plans to revitalise it are well underway.  

This innovative project is designed to promote inclusivity for all south Invercargill and the wider community so people from all walks of life can come together to learn, grow and thrive, build confidence and improve wellbeing. 

Supporting these aims, the build will include the greatest possible focus on sustainable design and building practices as well as providing for emergency supply in case of civil defence emergencies.

A group of people smiling at the camera standing in front of a community centre building
A group of five adults smiling looking at the baby one of the adults is holding

A hosted community lounge, helping to build social connections, friendships and a sense of belonging

Our goals.

People milling around a long table with big bowls and plates of food

Flexible spaces that are fit for many different purposes

A group of three young women looking intently at professional cameras

A safe and welcoming environment for young people with opportunities for activities like dance, gaming, art & fitness

Young Pasifika women sitting down at what looks like a conference or talk

Access to resources, advice and connections for pathway planning into work or new business development including co-working and office spaces

A group of people sat at a long white desk all working on laptops

A youth technology hub that also provides everyone in the community with access to, and training in, technology

An older Asian man and young child playing chess

Promote intergenerational connection

A group of young adults smiling at the camera standing in front of a modern building

Improve the community’s resilience and wellbeing

Use green energy initiatives to design a space in an innovative and sustainable way

A rooftop with a large sola panel on top
A group of people milling around inside a room with paintings on the walls at an art gallery

Create a space for artists and art lovers to gather, learn, exhibit and network

The team at McCulloch Architects have been hard at work creating plans that will transform the former Grace Street Chapel into a vibrant, multi-purpose community hub that meets the needs of South Invercargill. Explore the designs to get a glimpse of what we’re trying to achieve.

The Grace Street Project Building Designs

An artist impression of people milling inside of the Grace Street Project with a purple filter on top
An artist impression of the Grace Street Project building in Invercargill

Artist Impression Images and Floorplans

Project Costs

In June 2024 we had raised over 75% of the cost of the project, which includes our purchase of the building in November 2023.

We are now seeking to raise the balance of the funds required.

Once established and operational, it’s our objective that the facility will be financially self-sufficient. The IC2 Trust will manage it on behalf of the community.

FAQs

  • At the end of July 2024 we had completed a final floor layout design and received reports from structural, mechanical, fire and geo technical engineers.    We have now started the detailed working drawings which will allow us to obtain a building consent and to tender the project construction towards the end of 2024.

  • 800 m2.

  • In early 2020, during the feasibility stage of the project, we consulted with 92 youth and 47 organisations/individuals covering sectors such as education, business, arts, health and fitness, Māori, government and many community organisations, all  of whom identified a strong need for the project.   We have subsequently held stakeholder update sessions and send regular e-newsletters.

  • • Janette Malcolm

    • Kim Forsythe

    • Lyndal Ludlow

    • Mervyn English

    • Terry Nicholas

    • Chami Abeysinghe

    • Joanne O’Connor

    • Craig Taylor

    • Susan Burke

    • Jesse Hall, ex officio

    Find out more about us.

  • The Hub will be self sufficient once its operational through a mix of:

    • Regular income will come from foundation tenants including  Southland Institute of Technology (signed a 5 year commercial lease) and the Youth Technology Hub

    • Rental from  two offices and co-working spaces 

    • Income from the use of the four other spaces that will be available to groups, individuals and corporates on a booking basis.  The use of the community lounge and conservatory would be free.

    • Endowments or grants. For example we have been gifted the assets of another Trust to assist with the hosted community lounge.

  • “We would use the Centre to meet with people to support their pathway planning and provide seminars and training related to successfully transitioning to different opportunities.”

    Murihiku Regenerate

  • “Our whānau are very engaged in making things as great for their tamariki as they can, but there are some challenges unique to them, and to South Invercargill, and I can see this project alleviating many of those.” “This project feels like something that could encourage amazing community pride and that the possibilities would only grow more and more.”

    Te Kura o Whare Pā – Fernworth Primary School

  • “The Grace Street Project offers the opportunity to partner with a highly credible community partner (the IC2 Trust) to establish connections, engagement and ultimately pathways with people in our community who we will otherwise struggle to reach

    Southern Institute of Technology - Te Pūkenga

  • "We see huge value in the work that IC2 are progressing, as part of the creation of a broad range of safe and inclusive spaces for young people in the Invercargill area."

    Te Rourou, One Aotearoa Foundation - One NZ

  • "A purpose-built venue would enable more technologically sophisticated events and opportunities for the South Invercargill community."

    Your Corps

  • "As an organization, we work closely with rangatahi and youth, so we can attest to the need for a space such as this that provides these services, particularly in South Invercargill where a large portion of our Maori/Pasifika community reside."

    MIHARO, Māori and Pasifika cultural arts trust based in Invercargill

  • "65% of Grey Power members live in South Invercargill and most can’t drive or get into town so they can’t participate in most of our activities. The opportunity to be active, included and belong in a space which spans all age groups is really important. There isn’t anywhere now for them and intergenerational is so important."

    Grey Power

  • "This project aligns to our purpose: ‘Empowering working people and our communities for a better life.' It would be invaluable to have a community based facility such as this in South Invercargill where many of our members and workplaces are located or reside."

    E tū Union

  • “We have been trying to find ways to be more active within the Southland community to raise awareness that people with disabilities can make valuable and positive contributions to our communities. This project creates a great opportunity for us.”

    CCS Disability Services

  • "A multipurpose facility so close to much of our community will allow greater inclusion and opportunities to mix with wider groups if and when our members are ready. A facilitated community lounge would be a fantastic asset for our already vulnerable groups as it would help provide an element of security and careful management of people movement if necessary."

    Chroma the LGBTQI+ initiative for Southland

  • "We would welcome the opportunity to have access to exhibition space for our members. We often need a venue for a range of activities, such as workshops and it would be good to be close to the centre of South City. Your proposal would be a boost to the South Invercargill area."

    Southland Art Society