The Chelsea Collaborative, an organization that has grown in stature and size and helped thousands of Chelsea residents under the leadership of Executive Director Gladys Vega, ushered in a new era Tuesday with a ceremony marking the construction kickoff for the future home of the Collaborative at 318 Broadway.
City Manager Jay Ash, State Rep. Eugene O’Flaherty, Councillor-at-Large Leo Robinson, and Councillor-at-Large Roseann Bongiovanni, who is assistant executive director at the Collaborative, joined business leaders and Collaborative Board members in heralding another step forward for the organization which will move in to the space adjacent to the U.S. Post Office facility in January, 2010. The Collaborative’s new offices are being designed in a manner that will improve performance in energy savings, water efficiency, carbon dioxide emissions reduction, and overall indoor environmental quality.
Vega said the Collaborative has signed a 20-year lease that will increase existing square footage of its office space from 2,000 to 7,000 (square feet). The construction project will cost more than $350,000.
“We are using money from our generous donors and from funds we received from an out-of-court environmental settlement to pay for the construction,” said Vega.
The Colloborative has had its headquarters at 300 Broadway for the past 20 years.
“We’re very excited with our move to a new space,” said Vega, who leads a staff of 34 workers and many volunteers. “It’s a dream come true.”
During her remarks, Vega thanked the Carpenters’ and Painters Union, who will have skilled workers in their apprentice programs assisting on the projects. Vega also credited the Collaborative’s Board of Directors for their support and thanked businesses for their generous donations to the project.