Allambie Heights: Future of rundown $20m Cerebral Palsy Alliance site unclear
It's crumbling away, covered in rubbish and graffiti, but the future of the high-profile $20 million northern beaches’ property owned by a charity is hazy.
Manly
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Mystery surrounds the future of a landmark $20 million-plus northern beaches’ property that belongs to a high-profile charity.
The former headquarters of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, known as McLeod House, has fallen into crumbling disrepair since it closed its doors 10 years ago and moved on to an adjoining site at Allambie Heights.
Now rumours are swirling that the CPA is setting out to sell the 2.77ha premium block, with ocean views, at the top of Allambie Rd.
But the CPA will not confirm or deny the rumours.
It told the Manly Daily on Monday only that the “Cerebral Palsy Alliance is currently working closely with Northern Beaches Council to develop a Master Plan for the land surrounding the CPA headquarters”.
CPA communications manager Nicole Watson said in an email when asked to provide more details: “The Master Plan is being developed by CPA but with consult (sic) from Council. It is in line with The Northern Beaches Council 20-year vision for land use in the local area.
“At this stage we are not aware of the timings on any decision.”
The building is now covered in graffiti, has numerous smashed windows and is surrounded by an ugly, temporary steel mesh security fence.
The reluctance to detail the future of the property comes as other rumours suggest there is a push by some in the community to use the CPA site, which is Crown Land on a 82-year leasehold, to accommodate a new The Forest High School.
If the proposed and much-anticipated plan for a new town centre at Frenchs Forest gets the go-ahead, the high school will have to relocate.
It was suggested it would move to the site of the current Warringah Aquatic Centre, but that hit community opposition because it is built on an old waste dump.
Planning officials confirmed last year the draft plan would not be put on public exhibition until the location of The Forest High School was decided.
The Education Department told the Manly Daily late on Monday that a decision on the relocation of the school had not yet been made.
“The Frenchs Forest Town Centre proposal could require relocation of The Forest High School,” it said in a statement.
“The Department of Education is working with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and Northern Beaches Council in order to ensure that the educational requirements of the Frenchs Forest area are met.”
In 2015 the Manly Daily reported that the CPA announced plans to sell McLeod House, which opened in 1957 and was also used as the Spastic Centre Country Children’s Hostel for country children with cerebral palsy to stay while receiving treatment.
The CPA chief executive Rob White said at the time that they were hoping the land, which he said was valued at $20 million, would be used for aged care.
Mr White said site had gone on the market for expressions of interest.
“We wanted to see who’s out there in the market and what interest there is,” Mr White told the Manly Daily in 2015.
The alliance has an 82-year leasehold on the SP1 special activities-zoned site. Part of the lease agreement included subleasing to another approved party.
Ms Watson did tell the Manly Daily on Monday that “as with any funds raised or acquired by the organisation, these will go straight back in to services to improve outcomes and quality of life for people living with disabilities”.