$4M grant would help Garde transform New London building into event space
The state Community Investment Fund (CIF) 2030 Board on Tuesday approved a $4 million grant application made by the city for the Garde's plan to renovate Mercer Community Hall at 10 Meridian St. into a 5,500-square-foot multipurpose event space.
The award, which still requires approval from the state Bond Commission within 60 days, was less than the original $6.6 million sought for a project tentatively estimated to cost nearly $8.4 million.
Garde Executive Director Steve Sigel on Thursday said he's scheduled to meet with city officials Monday to discuss next steps, including whether to embark on a phased construction timeline, or wait until another round of CIF grants is applied for and awarded.
'We don't want to start the work and then have to shut down for a year,' Sigel said. 'But we also don't want to delay and see costs for the work go up.'
The project, years in the planning, calls for transforming the hall's first floor into an arts and community support venue which could accommodate performances, fundraising events, youth engagement gatherings and gallery shows.
The Garde currently boasts two venues: the 1,500-seat main theater on State Street and the smaller Oasis Room located on the property's second floor. Jeanne Sigel, the Garde's marketing and development director, said a renovated Mercer hall would fall somewhere in-between the existing venues.
'It's like 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears,' she said. 'The Oasis is too small for some performances and our historic theater is too big and is constantly booked. Mercer would be just right for certain bookings, from improv groups and smaller troupes.'
Steve Sigel said possible uses for the hall, with its high ceilings and planned adaptive stage and lighting, extend beyond entertainment. He said the space is ideal for renting out for weddings, bar mitzvahs and other events and fits into the Garde's mission of being a community partner.
'We want to dig deeper into that work, especially in engaging young people through our partnership with the Youth Engagement Partnership group and employment training programs,' he said.
Steve Sigel, who called the project 'shovel ready,' said the Mercer hall work is one part of a larger plan to eventually renovate the building's upper floors into office and community space.
The CIF commission on Tuesday also approved a $2 million grant to relocate Planned Parenthood of Southern New England from its current location on Franklin Street to 467 Ocean Ave. The money would help pay to renovate and expand the former Falvey car dealership property.
State Sen. Martha Marx, D-New London, said the new location is expected to serve more than 5,500 people annually and reduce the number of patients traveling to other Planned Parenthood locations in the area.
j.penney@theday.com
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