Site Construction Plan & Progress

BALL & SOCKET ARTS DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Phase 1 - 9,000 sf Completed July 2024

Phase 1 presents a microcosm of the larger Ball & Socket Arts project. It has become 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: Sweet Claude’s Ice Cream, a beloved local ice cream shop founded in 1988, making their own artisanal ice cream and serving it from our historic store front, and Artsplace, a municipally run art school offering classes, workshops and camps in various artistic fields to students of all ages. Artsplace was founded in 1987 and has inspired generations of creators.

  • Full renovation of Building 3 which includes the first floor Workshop Gallery, and offices for Ball & Socket Arts on the second floor.

  • Parking and landscaping along the West Main Street frontage

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

  • Facade restoration of the brick buildings

  • New sidewalks and streetscapes along Willow Street

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

  • 2011

    September 1: Ball & Socket Arts founded and incorporated.

  • 2013

    • Awarded $2.2 million in pioneer funding from the CT Department of Economic and Community Development for acquisition of the site, stabilization and environmental remediation

    • IRS Tax-exempt status secured

  • 2014

    • Ball & Socket Arts takes ownership of the property

    • Project plan approved by the Cheshire Planning & Zoning Commission

    • Site listed on the CT 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

  • 2015

    • Art Garage opens, 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

  • 2016

    • The Windows Project opens, 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 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 CT Trust for Historic Preservation

  • 2017

    • Bricks & Glass launches, 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

  • 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

  • 2019

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

    • Historic wooden clapboard was carefully taken down and planed to removed lead paint. Exposed building structure was fortified and new plywood sheathing put up, followed by a moisture protection barrier. Reusable cleaned wood 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.

  • 2020

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

  • 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.

  • 2022

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

    • November: Full-time employees brought on-board to drive progress.

    • December: original sign restored to the front of Building 1 after years of careful work.

  • 2023

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

    • September: construction on Building 3 is completed, including the Workshop Gallery.

    • Southern parking lot and direct entry to the Farmington Canal Linear Trail opened 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.