Eastworks
Will Bundy & Paula Bundy,
Managing Partners
116 Pleasant Street
Easthampton, MA 01027
(413) 527-1000
www.eastworks.com

In 1997, in an old factory building that backs onto the Lower Mill Pond in Easthampton Mass, Will Bundy and his wife Paula began to assemble the elements of community. As a tenant of the Arts & Industry building in Florence in the early 1990’s, Will Bundy experienced the beginnings of a mill re-use model that would take a giant step forward in the creation of Eastworks.

“The first time I saw this building I realized that this is where it should happen.” Bundy says about the old Stanley Home Products building on Pleasant Street, vacant since the mid-90’s.

By bringing the elusive and dynamic elements of community together in one place, Will Bundy operates Eastworks on the congruent model of business. Like minded businesses when they come together within a space, contrary to competing with each other, more often compliment each other.

“Due to our size, we can work on several levels of the congruent model. There is a cultural and artistic element that runs through the entire building. This floor (the 3rd floor) houses a lot of non-profits. Valley Advocate is here as well as a lot of startup businesses with an emphasis on design. We have architects, graphic designers and video production. And then we have the living spaces upstairs that are live-work. That floor is home to photographers, artists and people who simply enjoy living in a vibrant arts-related community. And then we have the first floor which is a retail community, again, offering quality crafted work from rugs to designer clothing.”

With a background in social work, video production and community housing, Will Bundy brought everything to bear in this huge venture. “My greatest qualification for being here is that I was crazy enough to do it.” He says. “This undertaking has been a very humbling education. It’s been almost 10 years since I’ve worked on the project and I’m not done.”

By all accounts Eastworks is a resounding success that has had a lasting effect on the arts community, and Easthampton. New space continually comes available as the project develops. Almost 70,000 square feet will be coming on line in the next eight to ten months. 20,000 square feet will be residential including a number of quality two-bedroom spaces available the beginning of June 2006. Commercial space goes for $3.50 to $8.00 a square foot. Residential units vary in size from 750 to 3600 square feet of living space with rents from $750 to $1850 a month.

If you haven’t visited Eastworks at 116 Pleasant Street in Easthampton, MA you need to do so. From the gleaming wood floors to the impossibly high ceilings, the place is humming with life and activity. Have lunch at the Apollo Grill. Buy your groceries at the Blue Moon. Sign up for ballet classes at Pioneer Valley Ballet. Or pick a spot on the fourth floor with gigantic windows and a spectacular view – and live there.

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