RE-APPROPRIATING THE HIGH ST
Whilst spending time in Hulme there is a noticeable absence of shops in the area. This decline in shops is even more evident visually through the mapping of stores in Hulme. I mapped the stores which I personally came across during time spent in Hulme. As shown on the map, Hulme shopping centre, the market and 'high st' is where the denser areas of shops are. However, this is mainly taken over by superstore Asda. The shops on Hulme high st itself are mainly ethnic specific stores with most shut up during the day, and the market has been taken over by a bargain discount store.
Shops provide a natural heart beat for a community. This is currently provided through Asda, a name familiar on the lips of every resident in Hulme. What Hulme is evidently lacking is a series of shops which represent the community, which are run by local people and provide a space for people to shop and connect at the same time.
SHOPPING IN HULME
HULME HIGH ST: THE ISSUE
ASDA AND HULME RETAIL PARK
Hulme retail park plays a vital role in the decline of shopping around Hulme. The megastore Asda has become a landmark in Hulme where people come to do their weekly shopping. The retail park also consists of other shops such as an argos and instore, both UK based retail chains. The retail park is known as Hulme retail park but also sits within the 'Hulme high st' scheme. However, this retail park defines the take over of super chains on our local shopping experience.
HULME MARKET
Hulme market is an old market hall which has been a landmark and place of importance to Hulme, the current market was built in 1991 as part of the Hulme regeneration. During its days as a market over 20 vendors had stores within the market with local produce avaliable to the community. In an interview with a local newspaper one resident said of the market "it’s one of the things that keeps the Hulme community connected" when commenting on its closure which happened in 2011. The company who owns the building decided in 2011 that a large majority of the market would be taken over by 'B&N bargains'. This lead to petitions and outrage in closure of what was considered a community hub to Hulme. Today, 'B&N bargains' has now taken over the space, contributing to the chain store take over of this part of Hulme.
HULME HIGH ST
Old Birley St which passes Hulme market is considered Hulme High St. However the predominant typology and development of the area is flats and apartments. The use of the area as housing contributes to the unusual feel along the road. The stores are placed within the walls of the apartment with most of them specialist stores to certain cultures in Hulme. As the entrances to the apartments sit on the street there is an unusal relationship between appropriated shop units and entrance hallways. As this facade nature changes the confusion of a 'high st' becomes more apparent. Needless to say although named Hulme high st this street has not become a landmark for people in Hulme.
DISCOVERING A NEED FOR REAPPROPRIATION
RESOLVING THE ISSUE: REAPPROPRIATING THE HIGH ST
Acknowledging the need for a high st in Hulme first came about during a film documentry at the Birley Fields Community Day. The historic film named 'Tales of Hulme and Moss Side' showed what life was like in the days before the slum clearance. Many local people were interviewed, all of whom talked fondly of the local shops that once had presence on the streets of Hulme. Shop owners would have good relationships with the people in the community, often basing exchange on a trust allowing these stores to become integrated parts of the community. In her book 'The Death and Life of Great American Cities' Jane Jacobs highlights the importance of developing relationships with the people who own the stores that border the sidewalks. What borders the sidewalk is just as important as the sidewalk itself, creating these relationship contribute to a flourishing community presence as well as safety. All of these characteristics which Jacobs has developed theory for were all addressed within the documentry as being strengths to these local stores.
Analysing, visiting and observing the current state of Hulme High St awakened the need for reappropriation of the high st even further. With historical reference to the success of local stores in Hulme and how they contributed in united localities we can learn from this precedent to bring back the presence of the local store to Hulme. As an overall methodology derived from studying Hulme, uniting the localities to create a co-locality is at the forefront of this proposal. Through reappropriation of the high st this scheme can become a place where localities are united through the means of shopping as well as developing and learning business skills to provide an essence of their locality to this one place. In accumilating something from each locality in one place, the aim in resolving the issue will be to create a united hub in Hulme where localities can intertwine with not only their counterparts of Hulme but also the wider population as well as those at the bottom of the social ladder.