Big Plans for Happy Valley Community Asset

With summer just around the corner, Matt Christman’s go-getter attitude is at its highest and he is putting a majority of his time toward the facility he owns, the Firehouse Café and Performing Arts Center, http://homepage.mac.com/mattchristman/firehouse/index.html.


By the end of July, paperwork will be turned in and ready to go for the facility to become a non-profit organization. Christman plans to hand off the Firehouse to a board of members, who will launch a capital campaign, or fundraising program.

The money raised will recuperate the investments and purchase the interest out that Christman and his father put in to the building. Any additional funds generated could potentially go toward scholarships for students or to a local artist.

Another potential plan for the Firehouse includes starting a film series during the winter months when Fairhaven’s Outdoor Cinema is closed, http://fairhaven.com/content/2010_summer_movies.

Overall, Christman wants to keep the main space a community hub for a variety of things such as dance and tai chi classes, socializing and sipping coffee, and performance events. He said the combination of a café and performing arts center is a perfect pair – two large windows in the café looking into the performing arts center allow someone to take a coffee break while enjoying the sight of ballet.

To learn more about Happy Valley’s and Fairhaven’s community assets visit:

-Project Labyrinth, http://www.projectlabyrinth.net/

-Caretaker's House Renovation in Fairhaven Park, http://www.caretakershouse/