Anvil Place in New Britain set to come to life
MUTUAL HOUSING ASSOCIATION OF GREATER HARTFORD, INC. (MHAGH) HAS ANNOUNCED AN EXCITING PARTNERSHIP WITH BREAKFAST LUNCH & DINNER (BL&D), A COMMUNITY VENTURE BUILDING STUDIO. TOGETHER, THEY AIM TO BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO ANVIL PLACE, A HISTORIC BUILDING LOCATED AT 51 W MAIN STREET IN DOWNTOWN NEW BRITAIN. THIS COLLABORATION SEEKS TO ESTABLISH A VIBRANT COMMUNITY HUB THAT ADDRESSES THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL RESIDENTS
Photo of Anvil
The activation partnership at Anvil Place, owned by MHAGH, represents a significant effort to revitalize New Britain's downtown. With the support of BL&D, Anvil Place's historic Grand Hall will be activated, with monthly event series and a string of one off events. The goal is to create a dynamic space that fosters economic growth, encourages collaboration, and becomes a source of pride for the New Britain community. To introduce the community to the project and explore potential collaborations, BL&D and MHAGH invited residents, community leaders, and business owners to an open house on Thursday, May 18th. The event provided an opportunity to learn more about the vision for Anvil Place and discover ways to contribute to this exciting initiative. By working together, the partners aim to create a community asset that truly reflects the diverse needs and aspirations of the city.
The proposed plan includes a collaborative placemaking initiative that will transform the Grand Hall into a versatile space catering to various community needs. Among the planned activities is the launch of the KNOW GOOD Market at Anvil, a monthly market series. This series will provide a platform for local businesses, artists, crafters, and food vendors to showcase their offerings, serving as an incubator for local entrepreneurs and contributing to the overall vibrancy of Anvil Place.
The KNOW GOOD Market series is scheduled to begin on Thursday, May 25th, and will continue on the 4th Thursday of each month, with special dates in November and December. These markets, which will feature food trucks, vendors, a DJ, and an on-site bar, will take place from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The organizers anticipate attracting hundreds of guests to downtown New Britain on each market day, supporting participating businesses and generating foot traffic for the surrounding downtown amenities.
In addition to the market series, BL&D plans to pilot a range of activation concepts in collaboration with community groups. These concepts may include theater performances, fashion shows, concerts, banquets, art exhibitions, and more. These pilots will not only provide valuable data on the viability of different event types but also offer a glimpse into the potential of Anvil Place as a mixed-use event venue.
Over the past year, BL&D has conducted extensive research to unlock the full potential of Anvil Place. The studio hopes that their research and activations will lay the groundworks so that the ground floor grand hall and vault basement may transform into a thriving space for events, a food and beverage establishment, or another community-focused business. Catherine MacKinnon, Executive Director of MHAGH, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "We are thrilled to partner with Breakfast Lunch & Dinner to activate Anvil Place and revitalize the historic Grand Hall. This collaboration is a testament to our shared commitment to creating vibrant and inclusive neighborhoods. We invite residents, community leaders, and businesses to join us at the open house on May 18th to learn more about this exciting initiative and explore opportunities for collaboration. Together, we can create a community asset that truly meets the diverse needs of our city."
Jeff Devereux, partner at Breakfast Lunch & Dinner, emphasized the potential of Anvil Place and the importance of community involvement: "The partnership with MHAGH presents a unique opportunity to revitalize Anvil Place and create a vibrant community asset. Through our approach, we aim to test various ideas and gather valuable insights from the community, which we hope will inform our future investments and help identify the ideal long-term tenant for the Grand Hall. We are excited to collaborate with local businesses and residents to shape Anvil Place into a thriving space that meets the needs of the New Britain community."
