Former Notre Dame church on Melville Street
I bought the former Notre Dame church and rectory on Melville Street in downtown Pittsfield, MA with my family almost three years ago.
After scheming with my three friends, Jess Conzo, Jess Rufo, and Bridget Conry, Alchemy Initiative was born. We are now planning for the re-use of the church and ways to build community.
Alchemy Initiative encompasses the former rectory and church next door and possibly the former convent on the north side of Melville Street.
Our plans thus far include a fully outfitted commercial kitchen, workshop space, and several individual artist studios in the lower level of the church.
Commercial kitchen space will be made available to local businesses in need of a place to produce their food products. Rental will be available in a scheduled manner. The kitchen space will also be used to teach classes and conduct community kitchen activities like canning, community meal preparation, holiday baking, and the like.
Workshop space will be made available to resident artists as well as regional, national and international teachers of subject matter connected to the mission of Alchemy Initiative. Four artists studios will be available for rent. Two of them are occupied as of March 1, 2009.
Plans for the upstairs of the church include a performance space, restaurant, public reading room and several individual artists studios or a hotel/hostel.
The rectory is being transformed into six living units. Three of them are currently occupied on a rental basis. Our goal is to sell the units to people committed to developing and working on Alchemy Initiative.
The grounds of both the church and rectory will evolve into an organic urban farm, where we will grow food, herbs, and flowers, raise chickens, and keep bees. We will work to establish a healthy biodiversity and promote native species.
Long-term plans include a greenhouse and a network of like gardens throughout the neighborhood and city, and a presence at our local farmers market.
We have made an offer on the former convent across the street. We would possibly renovate this building for a hostel-type accommodation used to house an extensive internship program as well as workshop students and other out of town guests.
An internship program is in development stages. This program will include a call to interns with expertise in design, education, organic growing, environmental building practices, community-building, and more
Storey Publishing- a local publishing company- has expressed interest in working with us. Storey published practical information and teaching books in areas related to crafts, gardening, and cooking, etc. We are talking with them about hosting workshops and demonstrations with their authors. The match seems ideal.
Please stay tuned to see what unfolds!