Berlin is a small city of approximately 10,000 located in Northern New Hampshire. Historically, the industry of the city has revolved around the area's most prominent feature, the forest. Since the 1800s the city has been home to a large paper mill that employed a significant amount of people and was the central industry in the area. In May 2006, the paper mill was permantly closed, greatly impacting the local economy. Recently, the prominent structure was sold and will soon be demolished. The city, like many other cities in the U.S., must move towards a service economy as it enters a new chapter in its history, a time of post-industrialism.
This project will take place on the former site of the mill, 121 acres in the center of the city. After the mill has been demolished, there will be a literal and figurative void in the city that will become the site for the project. Because I grew up in the city and have close ties there, the project is of great importance to me. It is at once a very trying time and a very hopeful time for the city as the promise of change is eminient but its form has yet to be determined.
For more information about the closing of the mill, please view these related links:
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