AMHERST — A building that takes on the appearance of a barn and is designed to fit into the look of homes in the Dickinson Local Historic District is envisioned as Amherst Media’s new headquarters.
“It’s what a modern-day Emily Dickinson would utilize,” said Demetria Rougeaux Shabazz, president of Amherst Media’s board, showing the illustration depicting a two-story structure with red clapboard siding topped by a Gambrel roof.
Amherst Media Executive Director Jim Lescault said the nonprofit is kicking off the “Raise Your Voice Campaign” that will allow its studio to move to .56 acres on Main Street, in front of the Henry Hills House and across from Elements Hot Tub and Bruno’s Pizza.
The building will have 4,200 square feet and is about the same size as its current site at 246 College St., where Amherst Media has been located for 21 years. But in August 2010, Eversource notified Amherst Media that it would be evicted, prompting the acquisition of the land four years ago.
Great Country Timber Frames of Ellington, Connecticut has developed the plans, both the conception of the exterior and how the interior space would be laid out.
“We’re very fortunate that they’re very excited about this project,” Lescault said.
The plans meet the needs for a technology center, with state-of-the-art equipment. They show a studio with a 14-foot ceiling, a studio control room and a cablecasting space, a computer lab, a meeting room and offices, as well as reception area and even a small green room.
While best known by some for broadcast of municipal meetings, Amherst Media also serves as a training center and a producer of documentaries, such as one it put together for the Amehrst Survival Center and another it is putting together for the 50th anniversary of the Amherst A Better Chance program. Shabazz said Amherst Media is a place where people can produce shows and have their voices heard.
Parking would be to the rear and as much green space as possible would be preserved on the property.
“We’d like to have greenery and to hold events outside the building during nice days,” Shabazz said.
The location is within walking distance of both the high school and middle school, and is next to a bus stop, helpful for the numerous Five Colleges interns who learn about producing videos.
“This will be closer and will be part of what’s going on downtown as well, which is exciting for us,” Shabazz said.
The capital campaign, which aims to collect $300,000 in donations, was boosted when the Rotary Club of Amherst gave Amherst Media a $25,000 matching grant. But Amherst Media couldn’t actively solicit money until negotiations finished with the town on a new 10-year deal, which was completed earlier this year.
The campaign will soon be reaching out to members for support, and there will be opportunities for the public to name rooms at the new site.
Lescault said he would not divulge the estimated cost for building, but the goal in fundraising is to have sufficient money on hand to secure a bank loan. Earlier this week, Lescault and Shabazz went before the Local Historic District Commission to show a sign that will be put on the property explaining that the building is coming soon. The hope is that will raise the profile in community, Shabazz said, and allow the nonprofit to move forward in similar way to how the Amherst Survival Center and the Hitchcock Center for the Environment got new buildings built.
“I want to make this place, with the help of the board and community, something we can be proud of,” Shabazz said. “This will be ours; this will be the community’s.”
For information, visit amherstmedia.org/donate.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.