Site Construction Plan & Progress

BALL & SOCKET ARTS DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Phase 1 - 9,000 sf, currently in development

Phase 1 will present a microcosm of the larger Ball & Socket Arts project. It will be a foothold, allowing us to present programming and cultivate donors and partners while we raise funds for Phase 2 and for the more challenging large-scale buildings on-site. Elements of Phase 1 are:

• Full renovation of Building 2 (The Willow Street Building), to house two mission-aligned tenants (the first floor was completed in August 2022)

• Full renovation of Building 3 including the first floor Workshop Gallery, the second floor will house a small art gallery, a multi-function room, and offices for Ball & Socket Arts (completed September 2023)

• Parking and landscaping along the entire West Main Street frontage (completed)

• The creation of a rear parking lot between Building 1 and Building 5, including the spur with direct access to the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail (completed)

• Facade rehabilitation of the Front Office Building (underway, with many aspects completed)

• New sidewalks and streetscapes along Willow Street (construction beginning autumn 2023 by the Town of Cheshire)

• Hazardous materials abatement site-wide (underway)

Phase 2 - 54,000 sf

Phase 2 will be the largest phase, ultimately returning the site to public use. Elements of Phase 2 include:

• Remediation systems operational in Building 1

• Major structural repairs and fire safety systems installed in Building 1

• Beginning of window restoration throughout Building 1

• Renovation of 45,000 square feet comprising Building 1 (the main factory building). The final complex will house:

  • the grand art gallery,

  • a flexible performance space for music, lectures, readings, film screenings and more

  • the welcome center, 

  • an interactive historical space,

  • retail shops (mission-aligned)

  •  a food court, featuring local businesses

  • a bike shop

• Complete renovation of  Building 5 (The Power House) to house commercial tenant

• Complete parking and landscaping site-wide

MILESTONES

2023

Final build-out of spaces on the second floor of Building 2 for our future long-term tenant, Artsplace.

Construction on Building 3 is completed as of September 2023, including the Workshop Gallery.

Southern parking lot and direct entry to the Farmington Canal Linear Trail opened in September 2023 in partnership with the Town of Cheshire.

Public programs began in summer 2023 including: visual arts programming, free public concerts, a writing class and much more.

Hazardous materials abatement in Building 1 continues, funded by a $925,000 grant from the CT Dept. of Economic and Community Development’s Brownfield Redevelopment Office to address lingering industrial contaminants.

2022

August 2022: Sweet Claude’s opened up shop in Building 2 and the public returned to campus for the first time!

Full-time employees brought on-board in November 2022 to drive progress.

December 2022, original sign restored to the front of Building 1 after years of careful work.

2021

Major grants from DECD awarded to Ball & Socket Arts to advance planning and to hire staff for the first time after ten years of grassroots progress by an all-volunteer team.

2020

Pandemic causes major delays to the funding and construction at Ball & Socket Arts and beyond.

2019

Phase 1 construction begins with the historic restoration of Building 2.

The historic wooden clapboard was carefully taken down and planed to removed lead paint. The exposed building structure was fortified and new plywood sheathing put up, followed by a moisture protection barrier. The reusable cleaned wood was put back up and new wood used when the historic wood was no longer in good enough condition.

Hazardous materials abatement in Building 1 completed, asbestos containing materials and loose lead paint removed, allowing for encapsulation of wall surfaces.

2018

Design plans for Phase 1 are completed

Hazardous materials abatement in Building 1 begins, funded by a $750,000 grant from the CT Dept. of Economic and Community Development to the Town of Cheshire

2017

Ball & Socket Arts launches Bricks & Glass, the two million dollar capital campaign for Phase 1

Architects Maier Design Group complete a full virtual model of the buildings, having mapped, measured and catalogued every surface and architectural feature including all 350 windows

Ball & Socket Arts begins presenting events on site including the West Main Art Market, plein air painting days and Yoga on the Lawn

The Ely Center for Contemporary Art in New Haven partners with Ball & Socket Arts to present Capturing the Before and art by the MANIAC collective

2016

Ball & Socket Arts presents The Windows Project, the largest public art project in Cheshire history. 48 windows on Building 1 are covered with art, including individual contributions from local artists, a mural installation designed by artist Tony Falcone and historical artists connected to Cheshire

Remedial Action Plan completed by Fuss & O'Neill

Market Study and Strategic Start-Up Plan completed by AMS Planning & Research, funded by a grant from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation

2015

Ball & Socket Arts presents Art Garage, an off-site, temporary art gallery presenting five exhibitions of contemporary art, June-September

Ball & Socket receives the first Historic Preservation Award from the Cheshire Historical Society

Protective stabilization of the buildings completed

Phase II/III Environmental Site Assessment, Hazardous Materials Assessment and Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment completed by Fuss & O'Neill

2014

Ball & Socket Arts takes ownership of the property

Project plan approved by the Cheshire Planning & Zoning Commission

Site listed on the Connecticut Register of Historic Places

Ball & Socket Arts presents "Capturing the Before", a traveling exhibition of work by regional photographers  witnessing the state of the buildings before renovations begin 

2013

Ball & Socket Arts awarded $2.2 million in pioneer funding from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development for acquisition of the site, stabilization and environmental remediation

IRS Tax-exempt status secured

2011

Ball & Socket Arts founded and incorporated, September 1