A Dream Unrealized, But Not Forgotten
Years ago, about twenty-five or thirty, I think, a small group of, at that time, current and former students sat in our family room in Bridgeport, Michigan and tossed around the idea of one day living and working in a shared arts community. It was referred to then as the “family mansion”. We truly considered ourselves one large family and in many ways still do. These were young people, high school and college kids who had worked closely with us in school and out. We talked about it a lot in those days.
Of course, it wasn’t at all realistic. No consideration was given to the reality of them one day having families of their own or the financial enormity of such a venture. It was just a wonderful thing to contemplate. The thought of the “starving artist” never entered the conversation, but gads it was inspiring and fun.
The extended family is much larger now and many of them continue to pursue their artistic visions. Many do have families of their own and all are much more aware of the “starving artist’ scenario. The realities that restricted the original dream are still in place, but in quiet moments a stray thought of that time long ago manages to creep in. At my age I should not entertain any such thoughts. But hey, any of you out there have any hot ideas?
I still dream of this too, sometimes, as you know. Those were wonderful days, and I felt it even though I was just a child. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in such a nurturing artistic environment as we had back then. There are a few days from the NYC years that remind me of that–up on the sixth floor at Dongan Place. The “try and fail” years.
Hi Bob (and all with the DREAM)
Cori Hanrahan, whom I work with at the Y, suggested I connect with you and your wife and vice versa. I do not think she realized what an interesting and timely idea that was —I think she simply had in mind our shared arts-making and theatre interests and may not have even known about your blog on the Unrealized Dream…. but things work in strange (and magical) ways. Essentially: We have The Mansion. I am not kidding. I love that you are still dreaming the dream. I do not know you, but I have held a vision of an arts or arts-integrated community since I was little and its always included the establishing of a nurturing creative environment and the wise sharing of resources.
My partner, John Bailey, is the owner of a beautiful old estate in Greenfield that overlooks the Ct. River Valley. The views are stupendous and the indoors spaces gorgeous, but need love and work and a new group of ownners or co-owners ASAP.
We have lived here for almost 5 years and done lots of preliminary efforts to turn parts or all of this 23 acre estate and its 4 existing buildings into more of a community and less a private residence. John has had to stop paying the mortgages as they jumped up way too high, so –like many others in the Nation — we are dealing with the property being in “pre-foreclosure” and any day could bring the “foreclosure” notice from the banks. But we are tring to steward it through and beyond this stressful scenario.
And as Crisis = Opportunity; we have also found that there are numerous silver linings to this potential cloud burst (and boy has it been raining and cloudy). One would be to sell this property (or just parts of it) off as part of a “Short Sale.” This “Short Sale” process would prevent foreclosure and allow the interested buying party (or parties) to negotiate a purchase price well below the normal market value (and below what is owed to the banks)…We are already discussing this option with a few interested parties, but have not found anyone who seems to share out larger vision that much.
We do not mean to scare you by being overly eager or naive. We know all too well the Starving Artist experience and also that people need time to think over big ideas and life changes, but despite that we wanted to reach out to you.
We would love to have you up and show you the place. This would give us a chance to discuss your and our ideas and for you to see how beautiful this place is and how full of potential it is for the kind of ideas you seem to have that may well compliment ours. We would be able to, time and intertest allowing, also show you the various lots, parcels and buildings that are available and share more about our creative ways to deal with financial and other challenges.
So, please call us to visit this “Mansion on the Hill”.
Maya Apfelbaum (413) 774-7322, or (978) 339-3101
John Bailey ((413) 210-0197
P.S. Sorry I can not refine this writing more right now as I have to get to work on a huge arts project I’m doing for the large Performance Parade in Burlington, Vt. next Sat., July 11, which is a signature event in a 2 wk. Quadricentenniel Waterfront Festival; http://www.CelebrateChamplain.org
Take good care. Please do not be scared away by the strength of this response…and do give us a call — just even to explore this all by phone a little. Thanks, Maya Apfelbaum
A couple of questions -
How much are the present mortgage payments (that would be if you were paying them on time?)
How many people would the “mansion” house for living?
Made a video about this, would you and anyone else here consider looking at it real quick and let me know your opinion? I left the URL in the website field, hopefully you can get to it. I’d appreciate it greatly, thank you