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15 <br /> <br />b. Authorization to Proceed with Phase 1 of the Proposed Eno River Mill Arts Project <br />and Associated Lease Agreement with Hedgehog Holdings <br /> <br />The Board received information on the proposed Eno River Mill Arts Project and considered <br />voting to approve the Orange County Arts Commission and staff moving forward with Phase 1 <br />of the Project by authorizing the Manager to sign a lease agreement with Hedgehog Holdings <br />for artist studio space at the Eno River Mill in Hillsborough. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: The Orange County Arts Commission (OCAC) has identified a lack of <br />infrastructure and equitable access as the two primary barriers for a healthy creative ecosystem <br />for Orange County artists and residents. By working in partnership with the Gold Family and its <br />partner, Hedgehog Holdings, the OCAC seeks to activate Hillsborough’s historic Eno River Mill <br />through the arts, providing critically needed space for the creative community, as well as <br />generating economic impact for the surrounding area. <br /> <br />The mill, located in West Hillsborough along the Eno River, opened as a yarn mill in 1897 and <br />operated until 1984. It was bought by the Gold Family in 1988. Hedgehog Holdings became <br />managing partner in 2015. Currently, it houses Weaver Street Market’s commissary, the <br />Expedition School, The Cloth Room Events Space and several small businesses. However, it <br />has vast amounts of raw, vacant space that would be perfect for the visual and performing arts. <br /> <br />The project is proposed to move forward in three phases, beginning with establishing thirteen <br />(13) move-in-ready artist studio spaces in Phase 1, and eventually providing space in Phases 2 <br />and 3 for additional programs. Phase 1 and the overall project will increase arts access for <br />residents regardless of socio-economic status, while transforming the Mill into an arts <br />destination and economic asset for the Town of Hillsborough and the County. Approval to move <br />forward with Phase 1 and the lease agreement with Hedgehog Holdings will provide thirteen <br />(13) affordable artist studio spaces for local visual artists. <br /> <br />Pending Board approval, staff will develop a press release and pursue other opportunities to <br />publicize the project, and specifically the availability of the thirteen (13) artist studio spaces. <br /> <br />Katie Murray, Arts Commission Coordinator, said the Arts Commission has been <br />evaluating current needs, and actively working to serve the creative community. She said the <br />three largest needs are: a stronger local arts agency; physical space for the arts; and increased <br />accessibility to the arts. She said Hillsborough is a hotbed for the arts right now, and the <br />Hillsborough Town Board actively supports the idea for the Eno Arts Mill. She said the Mill is a <br />wonderful, accessible location, and the timing is right. She made the following PowerPoint <br />presentation: <br /> <br />