AMP renovations set to move forward

WINSTED —  Representatives from the American Mural Project (AMP) announced on Monday, Feb. 13, that renovation of its mill building has been awarded to Scope Construction of New Britain.

AMP is located at 100 Whiting St., which is where the Winsted Hosiery Factory operated for many years. AMP purchased the location in 2006.

Founder and Sharon resident Ellen Griesedieck, who previously worked as a photographer for national publications, is covering the interior walls of the old factory building with a mural that she said is a tribute to working Americans, with workers in many different fields depicted in the art itself.

When assembled and completed, the mural will be 120 feet long, five stories high and 10 feet deep.

Last year, AMP met a $1 million state challenge grant that allowed the project to go ahead with construction.

According to AMP founder Ellen Griesedieck, the company will be undertaking Phase I construction of the project. 

“Phase I covers raising the roof and getting all the structural steel in the building that will house the mural,” Griesedieck wrote via email. “We will also be doing some grading for parking and temporary entry [into the building] and adding a small viewing platform inside. This will allow for opening the doors to the public so they can be present on the first days of the mural installation, witnessing all the sections coming together that happens in those first months.”

Griesedieck wrote that 11 contractors placed bids for Phase I of the project.

“Scope’s bid came in within several grand of our estimated budget of $2.4 million,” Griesedieck wrote.

She wrote that plans for Phase II construction will begin soon, but Griesedieck could not give an exact date for when the second part of the project would begin.

“Phase II will allow for the joining of the two buildings [located on the site] with an entry arcade,” she wrote. “It will also finish out the second building for our visitors center, where we will have workshops, a small theater, a cafe and a store.”

Griesedieck wrote that the final construction phase for the project will be the installation of gardens around the wooded acreage of the site. 

“We have so much planned for the wooded acreage that goes all the way up to Colony Drive,” Griesedieck wrote. “When finished, Winsted will have a fabulous community park with fountains, gardens and fun spaces for children and adults.”

Griesedieck added that she plans to hold a summer camp, AMPcamp, for children.

“There is so much ahead, but for now, a real milestone has been reached, and we are all very excited.”