Would the last one to leave please turn out the lights? In the case of Community House the last one to leave will be the Salvation Army community ministries office and its foodbank.
There was, and may still be, much sadness and anger among locals that the community and voluntary
groups that have called the Haupapa St building home have been forced to find new premises with the Rotorua Lakes Council's decision to demolish it.
The council says the decision to knock it down - making way for an expanded green space - was made due to the costs involved in the major repairs and improvements the building needed.
It simply wasn't worth fixing, from an economic point of view. The council is subsidising rent for the Sallies and other affected groups and has not just turned its back and thrown the tenants onto the streets.
For the Sallies at least, the move looks like it could work out for the best. What could have been a devastating setback has been turned into an opportunity.
