Topia Seeking Community Support for Next Phase
 Topia co-founder Caryn Heilman said donations like that above will be placed in local businesses. |
"We need to show more community support," co-founder Caryn Heilman told the Selectmen on Wednesday. "We need to have some individual donors, we need to have business donors, we need donors actually from Adams."
The nonprofit center is planning "A Symphony of 100 Carpenters" that will bring 100 professional and amateur carpenters together to raise funds and build out the stage this June. Some $3,000 needs to be raised by April 20 to ensure the environmentally-minded materials can be purchased in time.
The estimated $6.2 million "green" project has been moving forward in increments. Since the doors opened in 2005, the former movie theater at 27 Park St. and the adjacent Stone Soup cafe have been used for a number of performances, readings and children's arts activities.
Feasibility studies and architectural designs have been completed but the nonprofit center's next phase toward reconstruction has been stymied. A hoped-for grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council didn't come through and they've been told any federal and state funding may hinge on its ability to prove it has town support.
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U.S. Rep. John W. Olver, D-Amherst, visited the theater and while impressed, wanted to see more support in terms of audience level, she said.
The theater's made strides with larger donations from local banks, businesses and the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Images Cinema of Williamstown donated 150 seats; South Adams Savings donated the funds for a high-definition projection system and 32-foot screen, bringing film back to the theater for the first time in decades.
However, there's no heat and no bathrooms yet. The theater can only be used seasonally but Main Street Stage of North Adams wants to begin using the venue — and possibly call it home — as does Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School. Both require year-round use.
The restoration will cost millions but a lot can be done with $200,000, said Heilman.
"It's a super affordable theater, something that's going to revitalize the downtown without costing too much," she said. "Even though we are going to ask for money, it's not going to be outrageous sums like you might have seen in neighboring towns."
Topia is using the fundraising site Kickstarter.com to track pledges and supporters; it also lists what donors can get in return. Heilman said she will be in the mahogany room at Town Hall on Friday from 5 to 7 with information and to take sign-ups. More information can also be found on the Topia Web site."I think the community really supports it and I'm glad you're here to indicate why you need more support to get some of those grants," said Chairman Donald Sommer.
In other business,
► The board selected the Department of Public Works garage as the new polling location. The town's been looking for an alternative site after complaints over the use of the Community Center for the special Senate Election in January.
► Approved a new performance assessment criteria for the town administrator with the expectation of evaluating Butler before the end of the fiscal year.
► Approved an annual wine and malt license for Bascom Lodge between the hours of 6 and 11 p.m. The lodge opens for the season on May 15.
► Was informed that the Greylock Glen project has finally been filed on March 31 for Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act review.
► Set the town meeting date for Thursday, June 24.
