Vermont Business Magazine The boarded-up building and neglected property alongside the Whetstone Brook at 11 Arch Street in downtown Brattleboro, Vermont, got a new lease on life on December 11, when the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) acquired it from Green Mountain Power.BMAC Director Danny Lichtenfeld said the museum intends to rehabilitate the property and expand the museum's operations in downtown Brattleboro. BMAC's plans for the new facility have yet to be finalized but may include artist housing or studios, gallery or event space, classrooms, and a terrace overlooking the brook. "Bringing the Arch Street property back into productive use, from its current state of abandonment and neglect, will be no small task, but the museum's trustees, staff, and I look forward to the challenge," said Lichtenfeld. "Brattleboro deserves something great in that location, and that's what we intend to bring about."
Lichtenfeld initially contacted Green Mountain Power about the Arch Street property in the spring of 2014, at the suggestion of artist John Gibson, who thought the old industrial building would be a good location for an artist studio. Over the following year and a half, BMAC worked with Green Mountain Power and the engineering firms Stevens & Associates and LE Environmental to assess the condition of the property and determine its viability for restoration and redevelopment.
That due diligence ultimately yielded two promising findings. First, the building, despite its long state of neglect, is in relatively good structural shape. Second, from the standpoint of environmental contamination, the property is cleaner than anticipated, especially considering its history as a power generating station and its location in the former industrial heart of downtown Brattleboro.
The structural and environmental assessments undertaken by BMAC, along with a proposed environmental corrective action plan the museum has submitted to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, cost over $70,000 to complete. They were funded by grants from Windham Regional Commission, Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, and Preservation Trust of Vermont, and by a gift from a private donor.
"We're only just getting into the starting blocks with this project," said Lichtenfeld, "but we could not have gotten even this far without the generous support of several agencies and individuals who enabled us to thoroughly investigate the opportunity and determine if it made sense for us to take on."
"We are especially grateful to Susan McMahon of Windham Regional Commission, Bob Stevens and Alan Berry of Stevens & Associates, Alan Liptak and Angela Emerson of LE Environmental, and John Greenan and William Jakubowski of Green Mountain Power for their patience and support throughout the research and acquisition process," Lichtenfeld said.
The museum's next order of business is to remediate the environmental contamination present on the property, which includes polluted soils and lead paint. To that end, BMAC submitted a grant application to the EPA on December 18 requesting $200,000 to be applied toward total anticipated cleanup costs of approximately $240,000. According to Lichtenfeld, if the grant is successful, cleanup activities could be completed in the fall of 2016 and renovation work could follow soon thereafter.
"The area surrounding the museum is in the midst of a renaissance," said Christopher Chapman, president of the BMAC Board of Trustees. "Within the past few years, the new Brattleboro Food Co-op and Whetstone Station Restaurant & Brewery, as well as the ongoing improvements to the riverfront near the Amtrak station, have dramatically enhanced the neighborhood. Bringing the Arch Street property back to life is the next vital step in that direction."
"Forty-five years ago the founders of the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center had the foresight and fortitude to take on the task of rehabilitating Brattleboro's decaying Union Station building, which was slated for the wrecking ball," Chapman said. "That history serves as inspiration for me and my fellow trustees as we embark on this exciting project, which we hope will yield great benefits not only for the museum but for the Town ofBrattleboro and the surrounding region."
About the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center
Founded in 1972, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents rotating exhibits of contemporary art, complemented by lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and other public programs. The museum’s exhibits and gift shop are open every day exceptTuesday, 11-5. Regular admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for students. Members and children 18 and under are admitted free of charge. Located in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro, at the intersection of Main Street and Routes 119 and 142, the museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call802-257-0124or visitwww.brattleboromuseum.org.
Major support for BMAC is provided by its members, the Vermont Arts Council, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, People’s United Bank, Brattleboro Ford Subaru, Whetstone Station Restaurant & Brewery, and Allen Brothers Oil.