Liverpool School Co-Founded by Paul McCartney Buys John Lennon’s Old Art College

The Liverpool, England, performing arts school Paul McCartney co-founded has come to the rescue of an arts college attended by the late John Lennon that was in danger of being transformed into a luxury apartment complex. According to the Liverpool Echo, the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) has agreed to purchase the property at 68 Hope Street, where Lennon not only met his first wife, Cynthia, but also early Beatles bassist Stu Sutcliffe. The price is a reported 3.7 million pounds or about $5.9 million.

The college building, which is located next door to LIPA, is now expected to be used by the institute for educational purposes. LIPA, by the way, originally was the site of the Liverpool Institute for Boys — the grammar school both McCartney and George Harrison attended.
“There are sound business reasons why we are buying the building next door,” LIPA principal and chief executive Mark Featherstone-Witty told the Echo, “but there is no denying the romance of bringing together two buildings where three Beatles once did their learning.”
Witty also noted that McCartney “is supportive” of the plan. The deal is expected to be finalized on Friday.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Source: http://www.classichitsandoldies.com