RESIDENTS living in an old football stadium say they’re having a ball – apart from one major drawback.
Arsenal moved out of Highbury in 2006 after 93 years and headed three roads over to the 60,700 seater Emirates.
Highbury Square apartments was built in its place and now boasts 650 posh apartments.
Completed in 2010, modern two bed flats in the development can command up to £850,000.
Cheryl Cavelli, 47, has lived in the development for the last two years.
The former HR worker, originally from the USA, told The Sun: “I don’t know anything about soccer but it’s sort of like being pitch side.
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“It’s a nice place to live in a quiet corner of London. I love it.”
Half the flats incorporate the skeletal remains of the old East and West stands.
Residents in these flats get a dose of nostalgia as they use the old turn style entrances to access their homes.
A vast glass façade covers these two blocks, and behind it sit flats and interior balconies.
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Meanwhile new stadium-style brise soleil coverings loom over both stands to stop residents getting frazzled in hot sun.
The preserved stands also mean the frontages of the old 1923 stadium are still in place on Avenell Road and Highbury Hill.
And that means a lot to Arsenal mad Ken who was off to the pub to watch the Newcastle away game.
Although he doesn’t live in the development, he wishes he did.
“These are my roots, Highbury is Arsenal to me”, he told The Sun.
He added: “It’s nice they’ve kept a bit of it. It means a lot to people like me.
“Just loads of memories of me and my dad bless him.”
Sadly the North Bank and Clock End [south] stands were demolished during the development.
In their place are two new apartment blocks which boast balconies overlooking the old pitch.
The outdoor complex give residents the chance to wander around a central open air recreation area.
It was here where resident Mr Galloway pointed out to The Sun how over 500 Arsenal fans had their ashes buried under the old pitch.
He explained: “They could’ve just bulldozed them when this got thrown up but there are memorials like a bench and flowerbeds for them now.”
But another resident who did not want to be named said there is one major catch to living in the former stadium: you can’t even play football.
They said: “The old pitch is really fenced off and mainly concrete.
“You have to tap in and out.
“Bit ironic there’s no space to kick a ball around on what used to be ‘The Home of Football’.”
Nicola, 37, a mum of two, is another resident of 5 years in the development.
She added: “I’ve always liked unusual places, like barn conversions and old factories, so it’s sort of unsurprising I ended up here.”
Chris Hall was carrying shopping back when he spoke to The Sun.
He said: “It’s quite cool to live here.
“But for me personally it doesn’t feel that much like a stadium anymore.
“There’s not loads left to make you think it’s an old stadium.”
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Carla Short, added: “The bits left of the stadium are interesting. The only thing that annoys me is a lot of tourists taking pictures.
“People also come up to me asking questions about it.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
