New Bedford’s Star Store Set for Arts Revival

Just a few months ago, we were all wondering what would be the fate of the Star Store building in downtown New Bedford, the former home of the UMass Dartmouth College of Visual and Performing Arts. A vacant, older structure in need of renovations is not the kind of building developers often rush in to save.

A Bold Vision for the Star Store

That's where the Arts and Business Council of Greater Boston comes in. Where some saw an empty "white elephant" of a building, the Arts and Business Council saw it as a future home for artists and the studio space they need, and potentially art-related retail.

Matt McArthur, director of Real Estate and Fundraising for the Arts and Business Council, and Margo Saulnier of New Bedford Creative joined Townsquare Sunday to outline some of the next steps for the Star Store project.

A Unique Collaboration Across Sectors

"It is a very unique and unusual deal that required the generosity and cooperation from a number of different parties, not the least of which was building owner Paul Downey, who agreed to donate the building," McArthur said.

"The City of New Bedford had to be willing to work out an arrangement on back-property taxes owed the city, and the Arts and Business Council had to take on the risk of raising millions of dollars to improve the building, and operating it to serve the arts community of New Bedford," he said.

This is not the first rodeo for the Arts and Business Council of Greater Boston. It has done similar projects in a number of cities, including Lowell, South Boston and Worcester.

How the Community Will Shape the Space

Saulnier said the initial feedback from artists in New Bedford has been quite positive. She said New Bedford Creative and the EDC will be working with the Arts and Business Council to develop a community engagement process.

"We will be listening to the artistic community over the next few months to determine what are the best uses for the building," Saulnier said.

The Financial Challenge Ahead

McArthur said while the building is structurally sound, all of its "systems" need to be replaced. "We're looking at about $4 million to do that work," he said.

The cost of the interior renovations is still unknown. McArthur said he'll have a better handle on that after the community shares what it would like to see there.

"We're very focused right now on raising money from new sources outside of New Bedford," he said.

Why New Bedford?

Why would an outside institution or foundation want to invest in New Bedford?

"New Bedford is awesome," McArthur said. "Projects like this are compelling examples of how arts and creativity can enliven a place like downtown New Bedford. Believe it or not, large investors will go anywhere where there is a good project. You just have to convince them."

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