AGENDA #5b
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to: |
Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager |
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from: |
Ray L. Kisiah, Jr., Director Parks and Recreation Department |
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subject: |
Update on the Lincoln Art Center |
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date: |
January 28, 2008 |
The purpose of this report is to update the Town Manager and Town Council on the effort to relocate the Pottery Program from the Lincoln Art Center.
In 1976 the Town executed an agreement with the Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools that provided for the lease of certain school facilities to the Town for a period of 30 years. The Town agreed to expend funds to pay for construction and renovation of facilities and to provide maintenance of some facilities. One of the facilities covered in the lease agreement is the Lincoln Arts Center on Merritt Mill Road.
This lease agreement has now expired. However, the Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools have allowed the Pottery Program to remain at the Lincoln Art Center pending the start of renovations to the facility by the school system, which are anticipated to begin sometime in late spring of 2008.
In the original report to Town Council in February of 2007, staff recommended several alternatives for the relocation of the pottery program. One alternative was the housing of the program in the garage area of the administrative building for the Parks and Recreation Department at 200 Plant Road. At the February, 2007 meeting this alternative was discounted because of the use of the space by the Department for other programs.
The Pottery Program at the Lincoln Arts Center provides a hands-on recreation experience for approximately 190 participants. These participants include both children and adults involved in instructional classes and individual creative endeavors. The viability of the program is well established and this art program deserves continued support from the Town However, the relocation of the Pottery Program will not solve the greater needs of the Parks and Recreation Department that could be met in a new facility, including a variety of art studios, classrooms and performance spaces. The availability of these cultural art spaces is a major factor in developing a comprehensive recreation program for the Town.
After considerable investigation into Town-owned facilities, availability and rental cost of commercial buildings, along with a review of the space needs for the program that has been documented in past updates to the Town Council, the Parks and Recreation Department is ready to make a recommendation that Town Council approve the relocation of the Lincoln Art Center Pottery Program to the garage area of the administrative building for the Parks and Recreation Department at 200 Plant Road. This recommendation is based on the availability of the space, the anticipated cost associated with preparing the space to serve the program, storage of the equipment currently in the garage area and the desire of the Department to continue the program. Discussions with members of the Friends of the Lincoln Art Center have occurred concerning the potential use of this space and these discussions have been positively received.
Approve the recommendation to relocate the pottery program from the Lincoln Art Center to the garage area of the Parks and Recreation Department Administration building.