NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - The city of North Adams is starting over with its efforts to sell the Mohawk Theatre. The goal is to find a buyer who will re-develop the building into a hub of activity for the downtown area.

Mayor Jennifer Macksey organized two community input sessions this week. Dozens of attendees talked about their hopes for the theater, with ideas including a performance venue, a multi-purpose event space, or even some boutique retail space.

Macksey rejected a bid for the theater, which had been accepted by former mayor Tom Bernard after she took office in January.

Macksey said the process for the previous bid was rushed, and she wants to make sure the community will have a say.

“My big thing is I don’t want to give away the Mohawk Theatre,” said Macksey. “I want to ensure that we’re moving in the best interest of the city, and I want the community and the city council involved in the process. That is my whole mission here as mayor, is to be responsive of the community.”

The next steps are to use the community input to develop a request for proposals, which will be sent out in April. Macksey then wants to form a committee to review the bids that come in this summer.