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Date: 9/6/2023
WESTFIELD — The original vision behind the MillWorks Co-Sharing Space at the Mill at Crane Pond is still intact, but is as flexible as its workspace, according to co-owner J. Rockwell Allen and co-working manager Theresa Bessette.
MillWorks, which takes up the second floor of the Mill at Crane Pond’s main building at 77 Mill St., Westfield, in a space formerly occupied by Behavioral Health Network, offers a work environment where individuals can share office services, equipment, technology and space, allowing flexible and affordable options for telecommuters, solopreneurs, start-ups, students, independent contractors, traveling business people, or anyone looking for a creative and supportive place to work.
Originally, the nucleus of MillWorks was intended to be a large shared space with flexible and dedicated desk rentals, where people could work, network and grow their businesses. The affordable monthly rentals with daily options include high-speed internet, access to the copier and scanner, huddle and conference rooms, work lounge, phone room and kitchen, and the mailroom.
However, COVID-19 delayed the opening and made shared space difficult to manage. MillWorks had to retrofit spaces to make accommodations for safety, and added plastic barriers at the flexible desk stations.
The shared space is surrounded by small private offices also with access to all of the amenities, and a conference room that can accommodate 50 people, available to rent to the public.
“What we’ve seen is the series of small offices, with access to the kitchenette and conference rooms, are in high demand, with 100% occupancy,” Allen said. He said the larger co-sharing space with flexible and dedicated desks have only had a couple of tenants a month, not the 10 or 15 they had hoped for.
Currently, there is a half-price sale on the use of dedicated and flexible desks in the open space, which are accessible 24/7. The dedicated desks, which come with a locker, are $100 a month for unlimited use. Flexible desks are $75 per month through October.
Allen envisions the desks being used by students at Westfield State University; he’s had a few that have used it for study space. One student who was seeking a master’s degree rented a small office. He said the space also works for manufacturing representatives who want a presence in Westfield and a space to host clients, as well as people working at home who need a more professional environment and good Wi-Fi.
He said “the jury is still out” on whether the open space seating will be accepted by the public, and may require modification of their long-range game plan.
“I’ve tried to work with entrepreneurs and business owners to match their needs with the mill’s business plan,” he said.
Allen also renovated another space on the first floor relinquished by BHN as a part of their restructuring into a series of small affordable offices called The Hub, which also includes access to a kitchenette and conference rooms. He said six out of the 10 offices are rented, and he is wondering whether this will emerge as the best concept for the space.
The Mill also has small offices on the third floor, in another space formerly occupied by BHN.
“I don’t know if it’s a process of people getting comfortable with the current environment,” Allen said, adding, “We’re talking about reconfiguring to fit the demand.”
“There is a greater interest in having personal space,” said Bessette.
Allen said the small offices have a very diverse clientele, including a CPA, nutritionist, photographers, self-employed marketing and IT people working for bigger businesses, who find working at home not particularly productive and want office space.
He said his rental rates are still very reasonable. The offices in MillWorks, for example, are $350 monthly for one or two people, and $550 for two to four people.
“We’ve also seen an uptick in the rental of the conference room, which accommodates 50 people, and has a flexible seating arrangement,” said Bessette. The rates for the conference room are $55 per hour, or $400 for a full day, of 8 to 10 hours. Rentals may be found at millworkswestfield.com.
Besides MillWorks, the Mill at Crane Pond has a wide range of larger retail and business tenants. Built in 1868, the mill was originally created by the Crane Brothers Paper Co. of Dalton and the interconnected nine-building complex was later acquired by Stevens Paper Co.
Rocky Allen and his daughters purchased the property in 1989, and over the past 30 years the property has been restored and the building has been expanded to accommodate the needs of today’s businesses.
In an earlier interview, Bessette said the Mill at Crane Pond has long served as an incubator for companies that have moved on to larger spaces that bring people in, such as the Great Awakenings Brewery, the Pottery Cellar and the Bubble Mug Cafe, which recently expanded its dining area.
Allen and Bessette are also focusing on the larger tenants at the Mill.
“I’ve talked with tenants at the Mill about developing a greater sense of community within the Mill,” Allen said, adding that they are planning a series of activities which he hopes will promote interaction between the businesses.
As an example, he said the Great Awakenings Brewery is using labels made by Kirby Productions and flowers from Blooms Flower Truck.
“There is some interaction and cross-selling, which is great for the tenants,” he said.
The Mill also recently started a website, millatcranepond.com, that lists tenants, where they can post notices.
“We’re working on developing a sense of community,” Bessette said.
“The community is a plus for us, as opposed to a stand-alone facility,” Allen said.