DUBLIN — A new cultural arts center that will take over the former police headquarters is moving forward, despite a $4 million funding shortfall.
The former police headquarters at City Hall will be remodeled so that the first floor will be a 13,000-square-foot multiuse cultural arts center. Cost of the center, originally estimated at $5.8 million, has shot up to an estimated $11.9 million, largely due in part to the amenities added since the project was first proposed.
The city has $7.9 million of dedicated funding for the center, which makes it about $4 million short.
Despite this, Dublin City Council unanimously agreed on Tuesday to move forward with the schematic design and building layout of the new center, with an expectation that it could be put out to bid as early as February 2021. Construction could begin then in the spring, and could take up to a year to complete, according to the city.
Assistant City Manager Colleen Tribby told the council that there were other city funds to cover the shortfall, such as leftover funding from the cemetery expansion, about $3.7 million, plus the rest potentially from the internal services and information technology funds.
The updated design now includes a proposed 2,145-square-foot black box theater that could hold up to 150 seats, a 280-square-foot catering kitchen, more storage space and an indoor/outdoor art garden that added at least $2.7 million to the project cost. Structural upgrades and upgrades to the building’s roofing also increased the price tag, and the original overall costs were underestimated by $800,000.
Other features in the center include a gallery area that can also be used as a classroom or events storage space, as well as an arts/crafts room, a dance studio and a music studio.
“You had me at hello with this project, because it’s so important to the community, and so important to me,” said Mayor David Haubert on Tuesday.
Councilwoman Jean Josey expressed concern over the addition of more storage space and the $800,000 outdoor/indoor arts yard.
“This is more than a little over budget, and that concerns me a little,” she said.
City staff responded that not having additional storage space could make the idea of multipurpose rooms more difficult. Storage would be needed to more quickly change rooms; not having the storage would increase more staff time of setting up rooms.
Councilwoman Melissa Hernandez said that nearly every project the city has seen comes higher than originally estimated.
“That being said, I don’t want to cut corners,” she said, noting that adding a black box theater would be “essential,” as that could be a spot where the city actually makes money with theater performances.
The city held a community meeting in January with 75 people attending, where residents were in favor of adding a gallery space. The city’s Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission met in February with the new proposed layout and additions and approved recommending the design to the council.
The first floor of the building was used by Dublin police until February, when they moved to a new headquarters called the “Public Safety Complex” down the road at Clark Avenue and Dublin Boulevard.
The $5.7 million dedicated to renovating the building into a cultural arts center came as a capital improvement project, paid for with developer fees.
ArtsMarket, a consulting firm that specializes in arts-related projects, was hired by the city in 2016 to conduct a needs assessment study for the project. It found there is a need for a dance studio, music rehearsal space and an art gallery space in Dublin, according to a city report. Arts and cultural events are currently held at the Heritage Parks and Museums on Donlon Way, but a larger space is needed, according to a city report.
The second floor of the former police headquarters will be used for administrative offices for the city’s Parks and Community Services department, which will require minor changes in the space.
The city held several community meetings and surveyed residents as to what they would most like to see inside the cultural center. Mostly, residents said they wanted warm, colorful interior design aesthetics with minimalist features.
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Author: Angela Ruggiero