Prince Lobel is representing Allston Village Main Streets in the temporary use of the International Bike Building in Allston for an indoor skate park sponsored by Converse and “pop up” uses such as a community bike shop and a temporary vintage clothing store. The building owner, Eden Properties, is making the building available to AVMS while Eden seeks permits for a new project at the location.
Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the launch of POP Allston that will feature a nearly 10,000 square foot free indoor skatepark, a weekly multi-vendor vintage market, pop up DIY bicycle repair workshops and close to 5,000 square feet of flexible space that will be programmed with additional community uses.
Eden Properties owns this vacant building in Allston, which previously housed International Bike Shop. Eden is starting a two year process of obtaining permits to demolish the pre-existing building and construct a new mixed use development project. In the meantime, it has offered to permit AVMS to operate various temporary purposes of the building, which would promote good will at City Hall and keep the building active on the street.
CommonWheels Bicycle Co-op, an Allston based non-profit organization that works to empower people to utilize bicycles to enhance their efficiency, will also reside at POP Allston. CommonWheels will provide free skill-sharing workshops, tools and guidance, multilingual resources, a gathering space for social rides in order to develop and promote the bicycling community in Allston.
POP Allston was created through a collaboration of Allston Village Main Streets, Commonwheels Bicycle Co-Op, Orchard Skateshop, Vivant Vintage, the City of Boston and the building owner, Eden Properties.
Click here for Mayor Walsh’s full press release.