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Arts & Entertainment

Art Center Costs Double Initial Estimates

Piedmont's new venue seeks major support for mounting expenses.

When a grass-roots organization sprouts, there’s always a risk that weeds will grow, which is the lesson Nancy Lehrkind, President of the new Piedmont Center for the Arts (PCA), has had to learn.

In May, when the the new arts organization space in the former Christian Science church at 801 Magnolia Ave, they estimated it would cost about $75,000 to do all the work required before it opened. The art center's tab for renovations has since ballooned to $149,500.

New landscaping, railings, and carpeting have proved more expensive than first expected. And then replacing the lawn irrigation system was added to the to-do list.

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“The city knew that there were leaks and had turned off the water to the building years ago,” Lehrkind said. “When we turned it on, we had a veritable flood down Magnolia Avenue. We had to call East Bay Mud and have them turn off all the water to the whole street!”

The city granted PCA temporary occupancy rights for its this past Sunday, but before the first official performance, scheduled for Sept. 16, four bathroom stalls, a urinal, a drinking fountain, and a wheel-chair lift must be installed. The price tag for that is estimated at $14,000, more than nine times what PCA thought the would cost when they were planning to put them in the office area behind the main hall.

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“We open[ed] on the 28th, and on the 29th, we start demolition on the bathrooms,” Lehrkind said. “I found a wheel chair lift on EBay for $500, but it’s in New York and might not even work in the space, so I’m still looking.”

Lehrkind, a lawyer and real estate broker, is undeterred by the mounting bills.

“Renovating buildings is something I do every day." she said. “Someone will cover the costs. People have just stepped in and made things happen.”

So far PCA has brought in about $82,500, according to Lehrkind. She reported that the average donation has been $100. Seventeen founding circle members contributed a minimum of $2,000 and numerous local residents, businesses, and organizations have stepped in to help.

“The highest donation has been $7,500 from Dress Best For Less—from a thrift shop!”

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