image description
The Board of Selectmen took a tour of the Topia Arts Center Wednesday to see the progress being made by the nonprofit group.

Adams Selectmen Happy With Topia Arts Center Progress

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

The theater's General Manager Daniel Frederick explained the massive renovations the group needs to make before the theater is operational.
ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen raved about the progress of the Topia Arts Center after an hour-long visit Wednesday.

"It is the cleanest and nicest I've seen it," Chairman Arthur "Skip" Harrington said. "It's really cool to see a project like that."

The nonprofit group, Topia Arts Center Inc., had been leasing the building since 2005 and have been upgrading the former movie theater on Park Street into a performance space. By gathering volunteers, raising some money and donations, the theater has begun to take shape.

The leaders of the project took the board on a tour Wednesday  and asked for the town's support in applying for a $50,000 state grant to help develop a plan for stability.

"We're anxious, we're ready to move forward," Mary Ann McSweeney, chairwoman of the center's board of directors, said. "We're trying to get a marketing and fiscal plan."

So far, the group has rebuilt the center's stage, decorated the walls, installed more than 200 seats, installed lighting and added a projector screen. Yet, there are still some major, immediate needs to be addressed before the center is complete.

General Manager Daniel Frederick led the tour and pointed to three major needs: fixing a leaky roof, adding bathrooms and adding a heating and cooling system. The leaks in the roof have already caused damaged to the projection screen, he said.

"We need the heat and air conditioning to be a true four-season theater," Frederick said.

When the group first bought the building it dreamed of $5 million dollars' worth of renovations, but practicality stepped in the way. The group began removing unnecessary items – such as a second-floor balcony – from the plan and is instead focusing on getting the space renovated just enough to be fully operational.


Board member Paula Melville was the first to sign a wooden plank in support of the theater that will hang as decor once the theater is in full operation.
"We pared things off that would be really nice," Frederick said. "We were able to bring it down to $1.5 million."

The group is hoping to get renovation money from federal and state grants, but while the group works toward that end, the space can still host events.

Recently, Berkshire Creative held a networking event in the building and in July a theater group will be having performances.

In the end the group wants the interior to have a "rustic" feel, and to host a variety of events from private companies having meetings to theatrical performances to movies, with local non-profit groups paying a cheaper rental rate.

"We want it to be a community space," Kurt Kolok, a member of the board of directors said. "We will have things that everybody can enjoy."

The board members were impressed by the progress, and in a sign of support signed a wooden plank that will be used as decoration when the renovations are complete.

Tags: renovation,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Cheshire Works to Obtain Borrowing for Fire Truck

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
CHESHIRE, Mass.—The Fire Department's new firetruck is ready, but the town can not pay for it.
 
During a special town meeting last year, voters approved the borrowing of $850,000 for the purchase of a new fire truck. However, the meeting was not properly posted, causing a delay in borrowing.
 
One of the borrowing requirements is that the town supply the posting of the special election but since it was not properly posted, the town can not provide that. 
 
"The way around that is to have special legislation approved by the state of Massachusetts, to basically approve the special election," one member said.  
 
Another option is to have another special election. However, it can not be held close to the annual election. There isn't time to add the article to the annual election, said Town Administrator Jennifer Morse. 
 
State Rep. John Barrett III has been involved in this process for going on eight months and state Sen. Paul Mark is also involved to aid on the Senate side, Morse said. 
 
The best path forward is getting the town meeting approval on the Legislature to make it an official meeting. It's just a matter of getting it on the docket, one board member said. 
 
View Full Story

More Adams Stories