Nicholas Development of Wilton has purchased the former Bass Shoe World Headquarters with 291,000 square feet and turned it into a space to be leased to numerous small manufacturers. Gil Read of the developing company is spearheading an effort to offer metal manufacturing and processing companies plant space with built-in economies of shared warehousing, shipping and loading docks, joint purchase of metal stock in money-saving quantities and a shared local pool of skilled workers with a wide mix of trade backgrounds.