Funding Announcement
CitySpace Awarded $501K for Historic Easthampton Old Town Hall Restoration from Governor Healey’s $161M Boost for MA Growth
Governor Maura Healey, alongside Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao, and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus, announced over $161 million in funding for local economic development across Massachusetts, benefiting 313 projects in 171 communities. Among these grants, CitySpace has been awarded $501,830 to complete Phase II of the Old Town Hall restoration, a project aimed at making this historic arts and culture venue fully accessible to all members of the community.
CitySpace is one of only 37 recipients statewide to receive the highly competitive Underutilized Property Program grant, further underscoring the significance of this project. This funding will directly support CitySpace’s mission to restore and revitalize Easthampton’s historic Old Town Hall into a 350-seat, fully accessible arts center, preserving a piece of the city’s cultural heritage while creating an inclusive venue for artistic expression.
“CitySpace’s commitment to the community is evident in their dedication to transforming Old Town Hall into a vibrant center for arts and culture,” said Mayor Nicole LaChapelle. “This revitalization enhances Easthampton’s historic charm and serves as a beacon for creativity and collaboration.”
“CitySpace’s commitment to the community is evident in their dedication to transforming Old Town Hall into a vibrant center for arts and culture,” said Mayor Nicole LaChapelle. “This revitalization enhances Easthampton’s historic charm and serves as a beacon for creativity and collaboration.”
The second phase of restoration will introduce a new accessible entryway, an elevator serving every floor, and the repair and display of a historic stained-glass window on the building’s street-facing entryway. For over a century, Old Town Hall housed municipal offices, and while its second floor served as a public performance and gathering space, it has been unusable since 2003. CitySpace began managing the first floor as a multi-genre arts and community center in 2006, now welcoming over 15,000 visitors annually. The organization cemented its commitment to the building’s restoration in 2019 by securing a 40-year lease from the city to fully manage the Old Town Hall and to restore the second floor, a project shaped by regional community input and the needs of the performing arts community.
“This pivotal grant enables us to build on crucial investments from the Easthampton CPA, our community, local businesses, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council Cultural Facilities Fund to complete Phase II of Old Town Hall’s restoration,” said Burns Maxey, President of CitySpace. “Together, we’re transforming historic spaces to be more inclusive, accessible, affordable, and impactful. We are so thankful for this generous award, and its recognition of the economic development opportunities this project will provide for both Easthampton and the wider region.”
ABOUT CITYSPACE
CitySpace, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to restoring, preserving, and managing Easthampton’s Old Town Hall as a central hub for arts and culture. Built in 1869 and located in the heart of Easthampton’s Main Street Historic District, Old Town Hall is a city-owned landmark and serves as an essential gathering place for the community.
For further information on the project, including costs, plans, and funding, visit cityspaceeasthampton.org/transformation.
Photo: Architectural rendering of Old town Hall with new accessible entryway by Kuhn Riddle Architects.