Literacy organization Action Read has long been located in a second floor office space in the Park Mall high-rise on Quebec Street. But as the building undergoes renovations, and the owner wants to turn interior spaces into condominiums, Action Read was given notice to vacate.
Mira Clarke, executive director, said the move won’t be a long one. Staff and resources will move just one block down Norfolk Street to a roomy basement floor space at HOPE House.
While it remains a separate organization, Action Read’s programs have a symbiotic relationship to those offered by HOPE House, said Clarke, and HOPE House director Jaya James.
The Park Mall location will close on Thursday. The move will take place on Friday, with start up in the new location scheduled for Monday, Apr. 3. The address is 8 Cork St. E. The new locale is close to bus routes, is wheelchair accessible, easy to find, and close to partner organizations.
“We’ve been very happy here,” Clarke said, speaking of suite 202 in Park Mall. “I’m very excited about some of the changes the new space is going to bring. But it’s always a huge upheaval to move, and there’s a lot to get used to.” The transition has gone smoothly, she added.
“Now we’re going to be in this facility that has all of these great, cool community programs that support in complimentary ways what we do here,” Clarke said. “We’re bringing something that is different to that building.”
The street-level location is a welcome change, she added, with more visibility.
James said when Clarke put the word out about two months ago that Action Read needed new digs, she called HOPE House. And HOPE House had space.
Plans were put in place to finish a renovation on the basement, and painting and the laying of carpet is being completed this week. It will be ready for move-in on Friday.
James said there are two entrances to the space, the one through the courtyard along Cork Street, and the accessible entrance off of Church Lane, which has an elevator to the basement. There are two smaller offices and a larger room, as well as a shared meeting room.
The different users of the building worked together to meet everyone’s needs, she said.
“We’re really excited that they are coming because we know that they provide programs related to literacy – literacy from a broad perspective,” James added. “For us, we are really big on wanting to do more than just meeting the immediate need of our community members, but also helping them attain their goals for a different future.”
Having Action Read in the building makes it easier for HOPE House visitors to access literacy services of all kinds in a very comfortable way.
