CHESHIRE — Representatives of a local non-profit group that wants to turn a former West Main Street industrial site into an arts center are telling town officials they hope to open the first phase of the project at some point later this year.
But plans to open the first phase of Ball & Socket Arts by the end of June have hurdles to clear if that is to become a reality. A virtual presentation this week before the Cheshire Town Council did not provided a lot of specifics regarding the cost of the first phase and where the majority of the money for the work would come from.
Fundraising for the project kicked off in 2017.
One thing is certain: Even though the complex has none of the approvals it needs to open, the 63,000-foot complex already has its first tenant, according to Illona Somogyi, one of the founders of Ball & Socket Arts.
Sweet Claude’s, a local ice cream parlor currently located at 828 S. Main St., has committed to relocate to Ball & Socket’s Building No. 2 at the corner of Willow Street and West Main Street, according to Somogyi. The retail operations of Sweet Claude’s as well as its ice cream making would be done on one floor, she said.
The owner of Sweet Claude’s , Kelly Ann Pierce, was not immediately available for comment. The business takes a three-month hiatus during winter’s coldest months.
Another business, which Somogyi did not identify for councilors, would occupy another floor of the two story building.
“This site will populate very quickly,” she said. “This is something I think Cheshire is really ready for.”
Commercial tenants are critical because the income generated from commercial tenants will be used to finance programs and other activity going forward, according to Somogyi.
Other businesses have expressed interest in moving into Ball & Socket Arts, including a bicycle shop and someone interested in opening a brew pub and entertainment venue near where the manufacturing facility used to store the coal it need to operate. Somogyi did not identify any of the potential tenants by name.
Republican Councilman Don Walsh asked Ron Bergamo, a member of the board of Ball & Socket Arts, when the first phase of the project was expected to open. Bergamo said the organization is in the midst of getting all the regulatory permits it needs from the town.
“Once we get past that, we have several (price) quotes for (the cost of ) construction,” Bergamo said. “A site like this is not a traditional banking opportunity. Right now we’re working trying to wrap up funding. We’re entertaining a number of private funding resources.”
Just over 800 people have donated $457,000 since fundaising for the project started in Nov. 2017.
Whether or not Building No. 2 will be open this summer, he said, depends on whether the organization gets a financing package before the end of March. But Somogyi and two former Cheshire High School classmates, purchased the property for $725,000 in 2014.
Ball & Socket Manufacturing was in the business of making metal buttons before it The factory ceased operations in 1994 and was sold to a local business, Dalton Enterprises.
Plans call for the former Ball & Socket Factory to be converted into a facility that will include exhibition space for visual arts, dance and musical rehearsal space and other types of artistic endeavors.
Council Chairman Rob Oris said having the arts center completed someday “is one of our real shots at creating a downtown area.” Most of Cheshire’s retail business are located along a several mile stretch of Route 10
Democratic Councilman Peter Talbot praised what he called “the stick-to-itiveness,” of the organization and it volunteers.
“This wasn’t going to be easy, this wasn’t going to be quick,” Talbot said.
luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
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