Lynn building to provide more space, capacity for youth arts organization
JAMESTOWN, NY (June 18, 2014) – The Infinity Visual and Performing Arts, Inc. Board of Directors and Executive Director Shane Hawkins are pleased to announce plans to relocate from Infinity’s current home at 115 E. Third St., Jamestown to the ground floor of the Lynn Building at 301 East Second St., Jamestown. As the county’s leading visual and performing arts organization, Infinity is thrilled to find a new home that will provide more space to grow and expand arts programming.
“During the past couple years, we’ve seen a sharp increase in student enrollment at Infinity,” explained Jason Sample, president of Infinity’s board of directors. “As a result, we realized that the need for additional space was quickly becoming an issue. At the start of this year, we made it a priority to look for and explore various options. We soon learned that space was available in the Lynn building and with the help and generosity of Lynn Development LLC, we were able to finalize an agreement to move Infinity into a new home. The new location will not only provide nearly 40 percent more space for Infinity, but also long-lasting stability for the organization.”
“The partners and management of Lynn Development are truly inspired by the honorable work done by Infinity. It is our privilege to be the stewards of their new home and to do our part to contribute to their legacy for decades to come,” Jason Spain, President of Lynn Development said.
The agreement between Infinity and Lynn Development covers a period of ten years, with two additional five-year options to extend the lease. This means that the Lynn building could serve as the home for Infinity up through the year 2034.
“We can’t express enough our appreciation and gratitude to Lynn Development for providing Infinity with this opportunity,” Hawkins said. “Maintaining a presence in downtown Jamestown was very important to us. The fact that the Lynn building is practically across the street from Jamestown High School, where many of our students come from, is a huge plus. Add to that the additional space we’ll have available for programming and it’s safe to say that we are extremely pleased with the new location. We couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.”
In the coming weeks, Infinity will begin an aggressive campaign to help prepare the 14,100-sq/ft space for occupancy, which is projected to cost $220,000. The campaign will not only focus on fundraising, but also recruiting volunteers and construction supplies to help reduce expenses.
“Our goal is to be ready to move into the new space by mid-September,” said Hawkins. “Between now and then, we’ll be meeting with and mobilizing community stakeholders to help us bring this project to completion.”
Infinity will continue to operate out of its East Third St. location, which is owned by the city of Jamestown, until the new space is ready.
“We’d like to express our gratitude to the city for leasing space to Infinity the past several years. We’ve seen remarkable growth during those years and we are so pleased to be able to continue our presence in the downtown Jamestown area, expand our services and build our brand throughout the community.” Sample said.
Anyone wishing to learn more about the relocation project is invited to contact Infinity. Designs and blueprints for the new location have also been drafted and are available for viewing inside Infinity’s current location at 115 E. Third, St.
More details on the relocation effort and campaign will be coming in future weeks. For more information, to make a donation toward the campaign, or to find out how to volunteer for the project, contact Infinity at (716) 664-0991 or visit www.InfinityPerformingArts.org.
