Auckland Council is now consulting on options for the Leys Institute and Gymnasium. Information and a feedback form are on the council Have Your Say site here. Please do give the council feedback on your preferred option.

The Leys Institute at 20 St Marys Road is a group of heritage buildings. The buildings are earthquake-prone and closed in December 2019 due to safety risks. Auckland Council and the Waitematā Local Board are preparing to restore and modernise these buildings so they will last for generations to come.

There is a display in the Little Leys Library at 14 Jervois Road, Ponsonby, with full concept plans, and paper feedback forms to take away. Head Librarian Chloe can provide extra information if required.

The October Ponsonby News has an outline of the options on page 46.

There are two designs. Design 1 (pictured) was developed by the Project Advisory Group, which included several community advocates (Friends of Leys Institute representatives) along with heritage experts and architects, librarians, as well as council staff, and is designed to cater for future community needs for the next 30 years.

Design 2 was developed by council staff alone, is only able to partially deliver the expected future needs and is less expensive.

Image: Auckland Council