Coshocton Collaborative: Renovations underway for $5M facility expected to open in a year

Leonard L. Hayhurst, Coshocton Tribune
Beau Lonsinger of Philip A. Wagner does a pipe fitting at the Chacos Building as work is underway for the new Coshocton Collaborative. Currently being worked on are mechanical elements like plumbing, electrical and HVAC.
Beau Lonsinger of Philip A. Wagner does a pipe fitting at the Chacos Building as work is underway for the new Coshocton Collaborative. Currently being worked on are mechanical elements like plumbing, electrical and HVAC.

COSHOCTON − A boon to local entrepreneurs that will grow the economy and business base of Coshocton County is under creation with hopes a theater component will be added.

The Coshocton Collaborative was announced in the summer of 2021 by the Coshocton Port Authority. It will be in the old Chacos Building at 538 Main St., which was once home to the Pastime Theater. Chris, Pete and Ted Chacos bought the Colonial Theater in 1912. They renamed it the Pastime Theater and a new structure was erected in 1925. In the 1980s, it became a mini-mall.

Moon Property Management bought the building from Heritage Entertainment in 2010. It took over the building in 2000 and plans to create the Coshocton Performing Arts and Conference Center came to an end around 2005.

Renovations are currently underway by Massillon Construction and Supply of Canton. Several local sub-contractors are also working on the project. This includes Philip A. Wagner, Wood Electric and Johnson's Plumbing and Heating. The current focus is on mechanical elements and roof repairs will be next.

The project is estimated at $5.1 million with funding coming from the first round of Appalachian Community Grant Program funding awarded in spring 2023 and other entities. Tiffany Swigert, director of the Coshocton Port Authority, hopes the Collaborative will be finished by this time next year.

An artist rendering the Coshocton Collaborative will look like once finished.
An artist rendering the Coshocton Collaborative will look like once finished.

Swigert said there might be an auction for some unneeded items found in the building. She also wants to have a community meeting to discuss the total project and what's happening with work on the building.

"We understand there are some challenges when you're bringing some of these work trucks to downtown that aren't typically here everyday, especially with parking," Swigert said. "There's just going to be some things like Dumpster placement and the fence outside that's going to catch our community's attention. I think there's a necessity to explain doing some of these things, the why."

John Groves and Curt Kidd of Massillon Construction remove old doors from a second floor room in the old Chacos Building. It's being turned into the Coshocton Collaborative, a maker space and business incubator.
John Groves and Curt Kidd of Massillon Construction remove old doors from a second floor room in the old Chacos Building. It's being turned into the Coshocton Collaborative, a maker space and business incubator.

General plans

The basement of the three-story building will be a maker space with equipment for a wide variety of work. This could include a machine shop, wood shop and artists' studio. Challenges regarding ventilation need to be tackled. Small spots intended for dressing rooms might become recording studios for podcasts, webcasts, voiceover work and more.

The first floor will feature offices for Our Town Coshocton, the 3 for 3 Initiative, the Small Business Development Center of Kent State University and the Coshocton Port Authority among possible others. It would also contain a co-working space. This would be for students who need a place to do school work and adults who need a place to work outside the home. People could bring in their own devices, but there would be a computer lab too with a shared copier and scanner.

The second and third floors would be a business incubator with space for about 20 offices. There might also be communal space for individuals to collaborate. The second floor is for people in the first year or two of a new business or project. Those in year three to four would be on the third floor as they're a little further along on their journey. The plan would be for businesses to move out on their own after that.

A view of the stage area from the top of what was once the Pastime Theater in the Chacos Building. It's hoped the theater can be restored for use with the next round of Appalachian Community Grant funding from the State of Ohio.
A view of the stage area from the top of what was once the Pastime Theater in the Chacos Building. It's hoped the theater can be restored for use with the next round of Appalachian Community Grant funding from the State of Ohio.

Theater restoration

Also on the first floor is the main theater area. An event space could be just off the theater and plans are to revitalize the theater as well for movies, plays, concerts and other entertainment.

Funding needed for this is different from what has been received for the business incubator and maker space. Theater restoration is estimated at $9.5 million. The port authority is waiting to hear back on the next round of Appalachian Community Grant funding for that project, which could be announced at any time. If money is received, it's hoped the theater would be completed by the end of 2026. Swigert said they are exploring other funding options as well.

"We're just to trying to make sure we have other plans in place if needed," Swigert said.

An interior of the first floor area of the Chacos Building cleaned out and ready for work to develop the Coshocton Collaborative.
An interior of the first floor area of the Chacos Building cleaned out and ready for work to develop the Coshocton Collaborative.

Swigert knows a lot of people are interested in the theater addition, but she hopes the Collaborative overall will generate excitement for what it can mean to the area. She sees the project as being another sign of Downtown Coshocton being on the rise. Swigert is encouraged by what she sees around the Chacos Building, like development by Jason and Carly Thompson and restoration of the Row Houses for apartments.

"The end goal is that this will be an incredible asset to our community. It's going to foster entrepreneurial activity. We're going to welcome our community there and give them support services for business development," Swigert said. "When someone comes and visits the Coshocton Collaborative, it's likely they're going to be downtown for the day and they're going to stop and have lunch or pop into a retail location. At the end of this, it's going to be a great thing for our community."

Updates and photos will be shared on the Coshocton Collaborative Facebook page.

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @llhayhurst.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Renovations have begun at Coshocton Collaborative building

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