Introduction

420 Cherry Street is a building restoration project in Helena, Arkansas which now houses a community workshop where people can rent space, access tools and knowledge, and work on projects. The physical building is a living laboratory where shop members can learn about building trades and practice craftsmanship.

Member Martin Mudd demolishes

Community Workshop

It’s like a gym, but with table saws and surface planers instead of treadmills and free weights. People naturally have the interest, desire, and drive to build stuff. Not everyone can afford the equipment or the space required to turn an idea into a tangible reality, and sometimes an idea can seem so complicated, difficult, or overwhelming that it is abandoned. The community workshop provides space, tools, and access to experience which can aid the process of accomplishment.

Living Laboratory

The shop aesthetic is more construction site than finished space. This is because the building housing the shop is actively undergoing rehabilitation. Volunteers have learned basic skills in carpentry, concrete, stair building, cabinetry, window restoration, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, tile, and more. It’s not a school and there is no certification, but the experience can be educational and empowering.

If you need help with a project, or just need to borrow a tool, feel free to contact us.