Thomas Krens envisions project that includes model railroad

“Thomas Krens envisions project that includes model railroad museum, Mohawk Theater renovation”
Thomas Krens envisions project that includes model railroad
museum, Mohawk Theater renovation
Thomas Krens envisions project that includes model railroad
Posted: 12/03/2015 11:16:58
AM EST
museum,
Mohawk
Theater renovation
Updated: 12/04/2015 06:02:03 AM EST
Museum of History and Science, Alcombright said.
The nature of a model railroad museum offers a “connectivity to our industrial past,” said the mayor, who noted
that the redevelopment of Western Gateway Heritage State Park has been a “passion” of his since shortly after
he took office.
The Mohawk Theater, which first opened on Main Street in 1938, has been closed since 1991 but is often a
subject of discussion regarding revitalizing the city’s downtown. The press release does not elaborate on the
plans for its restoration and reuse.
Market
fellaapart
earlier this year.
Krens,
Williamstown
resident
and former director of the Solomon Guggenheim Foundation in New York City,
announced his plans for a global contemporary museum at the airport in August. The plans, unveiled at a city
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airport commission meeting, outlined a privately funded, 160,000-square-foot collection of some 400 works of
The railroad and contemporary architecture museum would not affect current tenants like the Department of
art.
Conservation and Recreation's Visitors Museum or the North Adams Historical Society's North Adams Museum of
History and Science, Alcombright said.
The Mohawk Theater on Main Street in downtown North Adams is set for redevelopment, according to a
The
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(Gillianin
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— The Berkshire
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NORTH ADAMS — A multi-faceted development plan unveiled by city officials on Wednesday features a model
railroad and architecture museum at Western Gateway Heritage State Park as well as redevelopment of the
Posted
Friday, December 4, 2015 4:02 am
Mohawk Theater.
By Adam Shanks, [email protected] @EagleAdamShanks on Twitter
The three-pronged proposal, spearheaded by Mass MoCA visionary Thomas Krens, also includes the construction
of his previously announced Global Contemporary Collection and Museum at the city's Harriman-West Airport
NORTH ADAMS — A multi-faceted development plan unveiled by city officials on Wednesday features a
grounds.
model railroad and architecture museum at Western Gateway Heritage State Park as well as redevelopment
Thethe
full details
will be announced
during a special event at 10 a.m. Saturday at the park featuring former
of
Mohawk
Theater.
Massachusetts Govs. Michael Dukakis and William Weld. Architect Richard Gluckman will also be on hand.
The
three-pronged proposal, spearheaded by Mass MoCA visionary Thomas Krens, also includes the
"There's a ton of horsepower behind this, and I think that's one of the many things makes it so compelling," Mayor
construction
of his previously announced Global Contemporary Collection and Museum at the city’s
Richard Alcombright said when reached by The Eagle on Wednesday.
Harriman-West Airport grounds.
“The basic concept is to work with a group of essentially investors to put together a world class collection of
contemporary art,” he said at the time.
The nature of a model railroad museum offers a "connectivity to our industrial past," said the mayor, who noted
that the redevelopment of Western Gateway Heritage State Park has been a "passion" of his since shortly after he
The development plans, according to the press release, align with goals set out by the city’s Vision 2030
Master Plan and nonprofit North Adams Partnership’s Economic Development Strategic Plan.
took office.
The Mohawk Theater, which first opened on Main Street in 1938, has been closed since 1991 but is often a
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"The basic concept is to work with a group of essentially investors to put together a world
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contemporary art," he said at the time.
Contact Adam Shanks at 413-496-6376.
The museum at Western Gateway Heritage State Park — to be housed in the park's largest building, just past the
Freight Yard Pub restaurant — is described in the press release as an "extreme model railroad and contemporary
The
full details will be announced during a special event at 10 a.m. Saturday at the park featuring former
architecture" museum.
Massachusetts Govs. Michael Dukakis and William Weld. Architect Richard Gluckman will also be on hand.
It's the first major announcement regarding redevelopment of the park, a former freight yard controlled by the
North Adamsa
Redevelopment
Authority, sincebehind
negotiations
with and
the group
of investors
known
as the
“There’s
ton of horsepower
this,
I think
that’s
one
of Greylock
the many things makes it so compelling,”
Mayor Richard Alcombright said when reached by The Eagle on Wednesday.
The museum at Western Gateway Heritage State Park — to be housed in the park’s largest building, just
past the Freight Yard Pub restaurant — is described in the press release as an “extreme model railroad and
contemporary architecture” museum.
It’s the first major announcement regarding redevelopment of the park, a former freight yard controlled by the
North Adams Redevelopment Authority, since negotiations with the group of investors known as the Greylock
Market fell apart earlier this year.
The railroad and contemporary architecture museum would not affect current tenants like the Department
of Conservation and Recreation’s Visitors Museum or the North Adams Historical Society’s North Adams
development plan unveiled by city officials on Wednesday features a model railroad and
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(Gillian Jones — The Berkshire Eagle)
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Take
Action
as redevelopment
of the Mohawk Theater.
The development plans, according to the press release, align with goals set out by the city's Vision 2030 Master
Plan and nonprofit North Adams Partnership's Economic Development Strategic Plan.
Krens seeks to create a "cultural corridor" in the valley that connects North Adams and Williamstown with his
developments complementing the existing institutions of Mass MoCA, the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute,
the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and the Williams College Museum of Art.