A Community Arts Center

A Proposal for the Reuse of the George M. Gura Building

March 27, 2012

Southington Community Cultural Arts is a non-profit organization incorporated in Connecticut.

Our mission:

Southington Community Cultural Arts will create and sustain a unique environment in

which people of all ages and abilities can feel free to create, exhibit and welcome the arts

into their lives; and will give artists the opportunity to share their talents with the

community.

Our Board of Directors• Mary DeCroce , Chairperson• Dawn Miceli, Vice Chair• David DeCroce, Treasurer• Melinda Otlowski, Secretary• John Myers• Tony Sheffy• Jane Keller Herzig• Tom Horanzy• Linda Deluca• Diann Thomson• Peter Veronneau• Christina Simms• Dr. Joe Erardi

We propose to utilize

the George M. Gura Building93 Main Streetas it once was…

We propose to utilize

the George M. Gura Building93 Main Streetas it is now…

We propose to utilize

the George M. Gura Building93 Main Street

as it is could become…

(

Historical Significance

“The buildings of the Southington Center Historic District form a classic late18th- and 19th-century town center. The municipal, service, religious, andresidential buildings here are well preserved and stand without major intrusions,giving large sections of the district the appearance they had 100 to 150 years ago.This undisturbed visual and functional identity is what gives the district itsprimary significance architecturally.”

Source: National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, by the United States Dept. of the Interior, Nov. 21, 1988.

Current Conditions

Is this possible?

• Renovations estimated at $200 per square foot = $1,200,000.

• Building maintenance and operating expenses are estimated to be $117,000 per year.

• Renovation of the exterior• Reconfiguring the interior to house new classroom &

studio spaces, a gallery, a performance area, a small office, a retail area for art supplies and artists’ work, a soundproof room for music, and a catering kitchen.

• Move In - Remediation & code work $ 120k• Phase I – Interior renovations & restore street

façade $ 750k• Phase II - Elevator, some exterior work and

specialties $ 330k

Arts Centers around Connecticut

Vernon Arts Center

Cheney Performing Arts Center, Manchester

Windsor Arts Center

The Green Dividend from Reusing Older Buildings - NRDC Switchboard"The study shows that, for most building types, adaptive reuse of older buildings produces measureable - and sometimes impressive - green benefits. The findings with respect to energy impacts for most buildings and adaptations are overwhelmingly positive, and effectively remove one of the arguments that is sometimes made against preservation and adaptation."Is It Time to Stop Constructing New Green Buildings? - Fast Company"No matter what LEED-certified credentials the building can offer, retrofitting the teardown that came before would probably have made more environmental sense."LEED From Behind: Why we should focus on greening existing buildings - TIME blog"A study by the Preservation Green Lab of the National Trust for Historic Preservation shows building reuse almost always has fewer environmental impacts than new construction—which means we’d be smart to spend at least as much time renovating existing buildings as we do lionizing fancy new green construction."Why Historic Buildings are Greener Than LEED-Certified New Ones - GOOD"Though the conclusion may seem counterintuitive in an age of ambitious LEED standards in many new buildings, consider that it uses more energy and creates more impact to construct an entirely new building than to fix up one of the same size for the same purpose.“

Sustainability Round-Up: The Greenest Building EditionPosted on: February 10th, 2012 by National Trust for Historic Preservation

Preservation Around the Country

Recent Headlines:

Lionel Lofts,Washington, DC

We don’t need state of the art space –

we just need arts space!

Our Capital Campaign and fundraising efforts are underway.

Private Funding Sources• The Calvanese Foundation• The Depaolo Family foundation• Main Street foundation• The Greater New Britain Community Foundation• Southington Education Foundation• Target Grants and Funding for the Arts• Wal-Mart state grant• Private businesses and Investors

• Projected Amount $ 200,000

Public Funding SourcesCT DECD Confirmed Historic Contributing Building Historic Restoration Fund $200,000CT Trust for Historic Preservation Feasability Study - Approved Historic Preservation Technical Assistance Grants $20,000Kresge $400-$850k Kresge $600,000NEA Conservative Estimate -Range $20-$75k Our Town $30,000NEA Foundations and Federal Agencies Creative Placemaking ArtPlace $350,000US EPA / CT DEP Real Property ; I.e. Asbestos Lead contamination - up to $200k EPA Remediation Grant $70,000CT DECD Consider securing Loan w Private & Local Funding Sources CEDF -Community Economic Development Fund $250,000CT DECD Matching Grant avl w loan CEDF -Community Economic Development Fund $250,000SUBTOTAL $1,770,000Wells Fargo Likely $100k, strong history in Arts Wells Fargo TBDXerox Likley $50k Strong History in CT Xerox TBDDECD, COA, CCT Currently Setting Guildelines - Hi Priority! Creative Placemaking TBDGrand Total PROJECTED $2,000,000

Estimated Annual Revenue• Studio rental space for 3 artists - $ 9,000• Classes - $ 27,000• Summer Art Camps - $ 4,600• Membership Fees - $ 7,000• Retail, Art Supplies, Gallery Artwork Sales - $ 28,000• Spring and Fall Fine Art Show - $ 25,000• Rental of Performance Area - $ 2,500• Special exhibits and performances - $ 2,500• Birthday Party rental - $ 6,000• Rental of Gallery for larger parties - $ 5,000• Wall space rental to Artists - $ 2,500

$ 119,100/year

Estimated Annual Expenditures• Custodial services, building maintenance,

telephone, utilities, supplies $47,000 (current expenditures)

• Marketing - $ 18,000• Website, Internet, security, insurance &

supplies - $ 10,000• Director - $ 30,000• Secretary - $ 12,000

$ 117,000/year

Our vision: Southington will be a

vibrant arts destination for centralConnecticut and beyond.

“Great art makes great places. Great places attract great talent. Great talent creates great

jobs.”CT DECD Deputy Commissioner Kip Bergstrom

For more information, find us on Facebook

search: Southington Community Cultural Arts

Thank you!