BERLIN– Use of the Visitor’s Center remains uncertain several months after the town took the building over from the Chamber of Commerce.
Located on 14 South Main Street, the center includes a front office for Berlin Main Street as well as six 10×10 offices and a commons area. Main Street uses two rooms for storage and conferences. The Chamber rents one room for their executive director and one for storage, and local artist Don Grafer currently rents an office for an artist space, although Grafer gave notice that he would vacate by the end of October.
Formerly a train shop, the building had made several rooms available to local artists as well as small businesses and nonprofits.
Don Grafer and his wife Susan leased the studio in 2012, maintaining the studio and as well as the center’s 2nd Friday events. They decided not to renew their lease this year, saying their endeavor was not viable with only one artist remaining. As many as three artists had kept offices there concurrently.
“Jim Adcock moved in I think about a year before Don and I leased our one space,” Susan Grafer said. “There was also a commercial artist/advertising person in the cube across from us who had been there for a while, was seldom there and moved out not long after we came.”
Another artist, Jim Cotellino, leased an office briefly before he and Adcock relocated to Snow Hill. Habitat for Humanity also temporarily rented an office.
Louise Hillman Bounds rented an artist space this year, but left after only a few months due to a difference of opinion.
“The Visitor’s Center just really opened (and) its purpose and direction were still being defined,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Chamber has had its own share of uncertainty, going through three executive directors in as many years. Joya Mattie replaced Aaren Collins in 2013, who replaced Olive Mawyer in 2012. Mattie stepped down from the position last month.
Chamber of Commerce President Tom Sholtis said the Chamber would continue to rent space while searching for a new executive director.
The Visitor’s Center nearly became a business incubator shortly after the town took over. Economic and Community Development Director Michael Day proposed an entrepreneurial program inspired by “pop up” stores in Cambridge and Rehoboth, providing free office space for six months in order to assist fledgling businesses. The Small Business Development Center at Salisbury University and Worcester County Economic Development Director Bill Badger championed the project, but the Berlin Mayor and Council voted the idea down during a July 14 meeting.
Main Street Coordinator Megan Houston is currently in charge of the center.
“Once Don leaves there will be two open spaces and as of now the Mayor and Council and I have yet to discuss what the next step will be,” Houston said. “This building seems ever-changing, but is slowly but surely evolving into a useful place for visitors to start their exploration through Berlin and merchants to provide information. I would like to see the space used in a positive way that would help benefit the town as a whole – our guests and visitors, as well as our merchants and residents.”
For artists in Berlin still looking for a home, the Worcester County Arts Council on 6 Jefferson Street has two spaces available for rent starting at $150 a month. Each space has 24-hour access and a private bathroom.
Grafer said the artist’s studios at the Visitor’s Center were an exciting idea that was never able to get off the ground due to financial struggles and budget constraints.
“Competing priorities within both the town and the Chamber organizations, volunteer efforts spread too thin to really support the effort and create momentum, and some personnel changes and conflicts along the way kept it from really taking off,” she said.
Located on 14 South Main Street, the center includes a front office for Berlin Main Street as well as six 10×10 offices and a commons area. Main Street uses two rooms for storage and conferences. The Chamber rents one room for their executive director and one for storage, and local artist Don Grafer currently rents an office for an artist space, although Grafer gave notice that he would vacate by the end of October.
Formerly a train shop, the building had made several rooms available to local artists as well as small businesses and nonprofits.
Don Grafer and his wife Susan leased the studio in 2012, maintaining the studio and as well as the center’s 2nd Friday events. They decided not to renew their lease this year, saying their endeavor was not viable with only one artist remaining. As many as three artists had kept offices there concurrently.
“Jim Adcock moved in I think about a year before Don and I leased our one space,” Susan Grafer said. “There was also a commercial artist/advertising person in the cube across from us who had been there for a while, was seldom there and moved out not long after we came.”
Another artist, Jim Cotellino, leased an office briefly before he and Adcock relocated to Snow Hill. Habitat for Humanity also temporarily rented an office.
Louise Hillman Bounds rented an artist space this year, but left after only a few months due to a difference of opinion.
“The Visitor’s Center just really opened (and) its purpose and direction were still being defined,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Chamber has had its own share of uncertainty, going through three executive directors in as many years. Joya Mattie replaced Aaren Collins in 2013, who replaced Olive Mawyer in 2012. Mattie stepped down from the position last month.
Chamber of Commerce President Tom Sholtis said the Chamber would continue to rent space while searching for a new executive director.
The Visitor’s Center nearly became a business incubator shortly after the town took over. Economic and Community Development Director Michael Day proposed an entrepreneurial program inspired by “pop up” stores in Cambridge and Rehoboth, providing free office space for six months in order to assist fledgling businesses. The Small Business Development Center at Salisbury University and Worcester County Economic Development Director Bill Badger championed the project, but the Berlin Mayor and Council voted the idea down during a July 14 meeting.
Main Street Coordinator Megan Houston is currently in charge of the center.
“Once Don leaves there will be two open spaces and as of now the Mayor and Council and I have yet to discuss what the next step will be,” Houston said. “This building seems ever-changing, but is slowly but surely evolving into a useful place for visitors to start their exploration through Berlin and merchants to provide information. I would like to see the space used in a positive way that would help benefit the town as a whole – our guests and visitors, as well as our merchants and residents.”
For artists in Berlin still looking for a home, the Worcester County Arts Council on 6 Jefferson Street has two spaces available for rent starting at $150 a month. Each space has 24-hour access and a private bathroom.
Grafer said the artist’s studios at the Visitor’s Center were an exciting idea that was never able to get off the ground due to financial struggles and budget constraints.
“Competing priorities within both the town and the Chamber organizations, volunteer efforts spread too thin to really support the effort and create momentum, and some personnel changes and conflicts along the way kept it from really taking off,” she said.