Village of Stockbridge purchases Back Street building for use as Village Hall

by Mary Jo David

In a goal-setting meeting in January 2023, the Village of Stockbridge set the wheels in motion to purchase a Village Hall for the community. That vision has become a reality. The Stockbridge Village Council closed on the new building, located at 118 N. Center St., in September.

“We knew the Back Street space was up for sale, and we could see that building as having lots of potential for office space as well as community event space,” Village President Jill Ogden explained. “Once we received Council approval we were able to make it happen.”

Currently, the plan is to use the large main room in the new building as a community hall; this space is already being made available to the public to rent for events. This is also the room where the Council Chambers will be located for monthly public meetings. The smaller room to the south of the main room (as you walk into the building from N. Center St.) is where the Village offices will be. The long, narrow room at the north end of the building will also be available for events; it will be more suited to small meeting space or use as a conference room. The building also has a kitchen.

Rental rates are listed below, with discounted rates for those who live in the Village and for nonprofits and charitable events hosted by local groups.

Village Resident Rates (responsible party’s address, based on driver’s license)

• $75 refundable deposit
• $50/hourly (for first 6 hours)*
• $500 for an all-day rental (8 a.m. to midnight)
• Additional $100 refundable deposit if alcohol will be served on the premises

NonVillage Resident Rates

• $150 refundable deposit
• $75/hourly (for first 6 hours)*
• $650 for an all-day rental (8 a.m. to midnight)
• Additional $150 refundable deposit if alcohol will be served on the premises

*A discounted flat rate of $100 per event is being made available for nonprofits and charitable organizations located within the Stockbridge Community School District.

Some renovations to the space are already under way, with plans for the Village to be moved into the new location completely by March 2024. Until then, the Village will continue to conduct business out of the office space it rents in the Stockbridge Activities Center (the old middle school).

The Village is already booking events for the event spaces and is applying event rental fees toward some of the renovation work. Those interested in hosting events at the new Village Hall should contact the Village at (517) 851-7435.

Next up for the Village: Watch for the future unveiling of a new look and feel to the Village of Stockbridge website, where interested parties can go to look for up-to-date Village information, including what dates are available for renting the new Village Hall space.

The Stockbridge Village Council closed on the location of its new Village Hall, located at 118 N. Center St., in September 2023 with plans to be moved in by March 2024. Photo credit: Jackie Scheller