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Era ends in Leeds as Latvian club goes on sale
The Daugavas Vanagi club in Leeds, England, is for sale, marking the end of an era. (Photo courtesy of Nigel Tapp & Co.)
April 22, 2008
The Latvian community in Leeds, a city in northern England, is marking the end of an era with the listing for sale of the Daugavas Vanagi cultural and social club, according to the agent marketing the property.
The 534 square meter building at the corner of Mexborough Avenue and Chapeltown Road already has seen interest from potential buyers. The property could sell for about GBP 400,000 (nearly USD 800,000), said Nigel Tapp of Nigel Tapp & Co. in an April 21 press release.
“The decision to sell has been especially difficult and sad for older members of the Latvian community in Leeds, for whom the center was a lifeline during the dark days of the Cold War,” Tapp said. “However, proceeds from the sale will be invested to help sponsor the Latvian community and its continuing activities.”
The Daugavas Vanagi club was founded in the 1950s and through the 1980s was a hub of cultural and social activity in Leeds. After Latvia regained independence in 1991, the club’s importance and popularity declined, Tapp said.
The property, two miles north of the city center, dates from the late Victorian era. It includes a meeting hall, a bar, a library, offices and a number of rooms once used for the Saturday school.
— Andris Straumanis
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Comments about this article
Maris Ozols
The estate agent has glossed over the real reason for the sale. The police revoked the licence for the club bar because of drug dealing, which had taken place over a long period of time. In fact, you were very unlikely to ever encounter a Latvian in the club bar - more likely you would meet Carribean folk.
08 May 2008 (Great Britain (UK))
Davie P
GBP400,000 - is that a misprint? I know the market is diving in Leeds, but the place is cavernous and you'll hardly get a 2 bed flat in London for that.
08 May 2008 (Denmark)