Co-Creative Center

137 Union Street

In 2018, WHALE completed the restoration of 137 Union Street, a 10,000 square-foot development that will foster New Bedford’s creative economy. This formerly abandoned block has been transformed into a collaborative retail, living and arts space that includes a gallery, education and maker space in the heart of downtown’s historic district. The Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE), as owner and developer, collaborated with architect studio2sustain and project partners. The initiative began in Spring 2016, and the full restoration has opened as of Spring 2018.

137 Union Street is now the Co-Creative Center, a mixed-use development featuring an art gallery, education and meeting space, and Co-Working space, in addition to loft-apartments, business and non-profit offices and storefronts. To see more information about the Co-Creative Center’s events, memberships, and rental opportunities, please visit the website at https://www.cocreativenb.org/.

The mutual goals for the project include:

• The historic restoration and reuse of 137 Union St with a creative multi-use approach for space that includes more downtown housing
• Building capacity for downtown’s artists, creatives and organizations through community gallery, co-work space, retail opportunities and maker space.
• Activating the streetscape at the storefront level for increase of people and activities within the overlap block of Seaport Cultural District, Historic District and TDI District
• Increase the access to hands-on arts education for low-income residents of New Bedford

PROJECT HISTORY

For over 10 years, the vacant “Barker’s Lane Block” had left a hole in New Bedford’s historic district. While the Gateway City is growing with revitalization efforts of downtown schools, tourism and retail shops, these abandoned buildings had remained untouched and wouldn’t have lasted another winter without a new roof.

Though the city is named one of the “Top 10 Artistic Cities in America”, a public hub for local creatives and an accessible maker space is still missing.  In New Bedford, many believe it is key to make sure the local arts renaissance remains accessible and affordable to all residents. This means granting emerging artists, creatives and makers their own downtown space and platform for diverse voices, along with their variety of mediums. The arts and music industry is evolving with technology and increasingly values the artist that creates work in multi-dimensional ways. Our local artists are already stepping in these directions of computer programming, protoyping and tech-driven arts, but few have access to the work and retail space needed to thrive in the industry.