The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Center confident in a June 5 groundbreaking
By Mark Reaman
A financial analysis of the proposed Center for the Arts expansion in Crested Butte is being conducted by the town staff and at least one councilman is suggesting it might be prudent to have a third party look it over and prepare a report to the council before final approval is given to break ground on the project.
“This is a huge thing we are getting ready to do in the middle of the entrance to town and it is important to really look at the finances and make sure it is solid,” said Crested Butte councilman Paul Merck, who also represents the town on the Center for the Arts board. “It could be worthwhile to have an independent third party look into it. We also have to be very clear about what the town is responsible for. Roles and responsibilities need to be very clear before the project begins.”
The Center’s board of directors has made it clear it hopes to break ground on Phase 1 of the $15 million project by June. The first phase entails construction of the new 30,000-square-foot theater building to the north of the current Center facility. The renovation of the current building is Phase 2 of the project, while Phase 3 would include a new outdoor stage and connected site work. Phase 1 is expected to cost $9.5 million. Center board of directors president Ed Schmidt has told the council they have about that much pledged toward the project. That first phase is expected to be completed in 2018.
The Town Council has been supportive of the project and pledged $1 million in cash and in-kind services to help the project. They also agreed to help with some potential cash flow issues with pledge timing to the tune of basically a $750,000 line of credit if it is necessary.
Center for the Arts executive director Jenny Birnie is confident in the progress and expects a shovel in the ground on June 5. “We do not take this next phase lightly and have taken great care as we prepare for the June 5th groundbreaking and subsequent construction,” she said Tuesday. “The community has voiced their overwhelming support through the pledges that make this step possible and no one wants this project to move forward and succeed more than them. The construction plan is in progress, we have not delayed and nothing remains unanswered. Our team has been working on plan development since BOZAR approval last summer. We intend to submit for site work permits in mid April, which will enable us to break ground in early June. Full and final plans will be submitted mid June which allows us to work consistently throughout the summer.”
“The Center has been working diligently with the Town staff over the past two months and has provided them all requested financial documentation. Town staff have been very prudent in their approach and we sincerely appreciate their due diligence in this process,” Birnie continued. “We are breaking ground on June 5th and we look forward to celebrating this milestone with Town Council and staff and the entire community. Given our experience with fundraising over the past three years, the Center for the Arts Board of Directors is confident we will raise the rest of the funds needed to complete all phases of the project. The operations of the new Center will be supported by the incredible growth of our programs in the performing, culinary and visual arts and will cause other arts nonprofits organizations to thrive and grow. Our phased approach to the project is both operationally responsible and fiscally prudent. We cannot leave our community without the theatre and we have committed not to begin a phase unless we have conservative expectations that the funds will be available to compete that work.
“To me, this is one of the largest projects ever in town,” said Merck. “We need to keep an eye on the ball and be open and transparent with our constituents. If there comes a stopping point in any of the phases, what will that look like? What would that mean for the town? I think we need to get the solid information soon, certainly before anyone breaks ground. This is set up to begin pretty soon and I just want the town to be protected. We all want to work positively and together but as a council we need to be prudent,” said Merck.
“The town staff is continuing to look at their numbers,” said acting town manager Bob Gillie. “We will be looking for council input once we analyze the figures.”
While the council has given the philosophical nod to proceed with the project, Gillie said BOZAR is still waiting on some details to be ironed out and completed and no construction plan has been submitted or building permit issued.
