EASTHAMPTON – The second floor of Old Town Hall is expected to receive $6.9 million worth of renovations in 2023. CitySpace, a nonprofit organization that manages the first floor of the building, is restoring the space into accessible performing arts and community space.

President of CitySpace Burns Maxey told Reminder Publishing that because the second floor is not accessible they are adding an elevator, restrooms, a sprinkler system, storage space, and a green room. According to the CitySpace website, they are renovating the lobby, adding a new box office, removing asbestos, replicating the historic moldings, and updating the light, sound, and projection equipment.

“Essentially, we are going to outfit it so that it is usable by performing artists and community organizations as a performing arts space,” said Maxey.

She added that it is a good spot for the arts community who are looking for a place to practice, perform, and use for events. The space will also allow for 350 seats.

Old Town Hall is city-owned but, in 2006, CitySpace was founded as an organization and began to manage the first floor when the city vacated its town offices and moved to 50 Payson Ave. The organization decided to make affordable space for the arts on the first floor.

“We began in earnest the work to restoring the second floor into performing arts and community space in 2016. In 2017, we were awarded a capital grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council Cultural Facilities Fund and funding from Easthampton’s CPA for the final design of the second floor which was completed in late 2018 by Kuhn Riddle Architects,” Maxey said.

CitySpace hosted a couple of community convenings over the past years called, “Future of Performing Arts in Easthampton” to get feedback from performing arts organizations and performing artists, who potentially will be using the space in the future. Maxey said their first one was in 2012 and their second one was in March of last year. According to a press release from last year, their second convening was a sequel to a 2013 charette, when members of the community tasked CitySpace to lead the restoration of the second floor.

“Over 70 people attended who were from performing arts organizations, performing artists, or general community members interested in the project and from Western Massachusetts. CitySpace received feedback from them about our plans for the second floor,” she said.

Considering Old Town Hall is a historic building, CitySpace has to follow procedures for historic preservation.

“As part of the design process, our architects had to abide by historic procedures and submit the design and architectural plans to the Massachusetts Historic Commission (MHC). In order to be approved, the plans must maintain the historic integrity of the building,” Maxey said.

Last year, CitySpace secured a long term lease with the city for 44 years. Maxey said with this lease they will be able to apply for historic tax credits and other grants that require them to have a long-term lease.

“CitySpace is a volunteer-run organization, so this is really a labor of love, its not just for historic preservation of an incredible building but it’s also, to us at CitySpace, it’s a way for us to consider how we can create long-term affordability for the arts and really think about how we can ensure, economic vitality of that area and really of our region, too,” Maxey shared.

According to the website, www.cityspaceeasthampton.org/transformation, they have raised $3.9 million out of their $6.9 million goal. To support the renovations, you can donate online at, www.cityspaceeasthampton.org/donate or mail your donation to CitySpace, 50 Payson Ave., Easthampton, MA 01027.