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 City.

The Project is more than just a building - it's a new beat in the heart of our South Invercargill community.

Its designed to promote inclusivity so people from all walks of life can come together to learn, grow, and thrive. This space will be a place of community pride and a place of turangawaewae.

Our goals.

Promote intergenerational connection

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

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

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

Access to resources for vocational pathway planning into work or new work opportunities

Flexible spaces that are fit for many different purposes

Improve the community’s resilience and wellbeing

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

Provide everyone in the community with access to, and training in, technology

A dedicated youth lounge designed by Rangatahi

Connect our community to existing organisations in the city who can help with training, vocational information and business advice

FAQ

  • $4.5 million

  • The total project cost is based on

    Purchase of the property

    The Engineering concept designs for the strengthening required

    Architect concepts for the building design

    Quantity Surveyor costing of those plans/designs, including a contingency and escalation

  • 700 m2

  • In early 2020, our research team consulted with 47 organisations/individuals and 92 youth covering sectors such as education (primary, secondary & tertiary), business, arts, health and fitness, Māori, government and many community organisations.

    Subsequently, in 2022 we’ve held two stakeholder sessions to update and confirm community needs

    Prior to the start of the developed design phase we anticipate significant consultation with the community regarding specific requirements, stories to tell and general look and feel.

  • • Janette Malcolm

    • Jesse Hall

    • Kim Forsythe

    • Lyndal Ludlow

    • Mervyn English

    • Terry Nicholas

    • Chami Abeysinghe

    • Joanne O’Connor, ex officio

    Learn more.

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

    Foundation partners and some other local agencies will provide income, for example, Te Pūkenga has signed a 5 year commercial lease.

    Lease of two offices and co-working spaces

    Income from the use of the five different 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 facilitated 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