PROPERTY
Finding the perfect space – Avenue (Newcastle)
Avenue approached White Box Enterprises to help them find a space that would suit their specific needs.
A social enterprise of Fighting Chance, Avenue is committed to enabling people with disabilities to come together to work and thrive in collaboration with peers, creating opportunities to work in a variety of micro-enterprises or via online platforms.
Based in Sydney with hubs in Frenchs Forest, Botany and Parramatta, Avenue was looking for space further afield in a variety of locations. Their first target was Newcastle. Their operations within the disability sector meant that their centres required specific criteria to ensure accessibility and safety was always a priority. This criterion can be tricky to navigate, but it is essential. Avenue was on a mission to find a space that ticked all their boxes.
In particular, Avenue required:
- A large floor plate position at ground level that was within immediate proximity to green space
- An accessible car parking drop-off zone
- Public transport access within walking distance
- A property that was not positioned on a main road
These requirements proved difficult to meet, so White Box Enterprises created an expansion plan that summarised the commercial leasing markets they wished to explore, outlining the best options available to Avenue at the time. Once Avenue had identified the opportunities they were interested in pursuing, the next step was for White Box Enterprises to handle all lease negotiations on their behalf and secure the most advantageous commercial terms.
To bring this solution to life, White Box Enterprises leveraged relationships with previous stakeholders including agents and town planners, to shortlist three properties within Newcastle, negotiating on Avenue’s behalf.
One of these properties – located in Warabrook, in Newcastle’s north west – was ideal and White Box Enterprises were able to secure the space on a long lease term with an attractive incentive, providing Avenue with a financially sustainable platform to operate from.
White Box Enterprises efforts in this expansion project have given Avenue the opportunity to open their first centre outside of the Sydney Metropolitan area and this centre will directly contribute to the creation of 180+ new jobs.
Is your social enterprise growing? Do you need the right space to ensure you can continue to build impact in your community? Use the contact form below to get in touch with our property team who can help you find the right space to fit your needs and support your growth.
Are you a social enterprise looking for a new home, or do you have a space you’d like to re-purpose?
Get in touch with our property team today (don’t worry, we’re good at finding the capital to fit out these spaces too).
Our Locations
Brisbane
1/309 North Quay, Brisbane 4000
Mailing Address:
PO Box 590, Fortitude Valley 4006
Social Enterprise District
– Mt Gravatt
1030 Cavendish Rd,
Mount Gravatt 4122
Careers
White Box is always on the lookout for people that have social enterprise in their blood. We don’t have any positions open at the moment but we are always recruiting. Find out more.
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Acknowledgement of Country
We are proud to work with social enterprises all over Australia. We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of the land we work and live on, recognising that Sovereignty was never ceded. We pay our respects to the First People of this country, their culture and Elders past, present and emerging.