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June 9, 2009

Arts Center to get much-desired federal building

Arts group gains title to vacant Federal Building

By JOE LoTEMPLIO

PLATTSBURGH — The coveted Federal Building in downtown Plattsburgh has been awarded to the North Country Cultural Center for the Arts.

Arts supporters are hoping the transaction paves the way for a major arts renaissance for the city.

"This is a very big deal, and we feel real good about it," Susan Daul, executive director for the center, said Tuesday.

TITLE TRANSFER
The center was notified this past weekend by the U.S. Department of Education that it will be receiving title to the building, which sits at the corner of Margaret and Brinkerhoff streets, across from the center's rented space on Brinkerhoff.

The center has been seeking the Federal Building since the government made it available three years ago.

The City of Plattsburgh was also vying for the property in hopes that a private developer would purchase it, which would have put it on the tax rolls.

BIG PLANS
The Cultural Center has grand plans for the building, which will house art studios, galleries, offices and training space for a multitude of programs.

The main use of the building will be for arts education programs, funded by state and federal grants that will become available once the center takes ownership of the property.

"There are a lot of programs out there that people are doing, but there is no real home for them," said Leigh Mundy, president of the center's Board of Trustees. "We want to be that home."

The building project will work in conjunction with the adjacent Strand Theatre, which the Cultural Center is refurbishing.

ECONOMIC BOOST
Daul said development of a flourishing arts corridor will help downtown tremendously.

"It's not just the arts programs — it's the studios and the shops that will spring up. It will increase sales revenue."

Several development studies have concluded that a real revitalization of downtown cannot happen unless there is a strong arts corridor, Daul said.

"The Flynn Theater (in downtown Burlington, Vt.) brings an economic impact of about $20 million a year," she cited as an example.

Mundy said an attractive cultural offering will make Plattsburgh a destination point.

"A strong arts corridor will be key in the development of downtown. It will help restaurants and shops and will jump start the redevelopment efforts."

Mundy and Daul said the center hopes to take title to the property as soon as the legal papers are finished, hopefully sometime this summer.

They will then begin the process of moving offices and setting up programs.

TAX POTENTIAL
Mayor Donald Kasprzak, who has been very vocal about his desire to see the building put on the property-tax rolls, said he hopes the Cultural Center does well with the building.

"However, I still firmly believe that this property should be on the tax rolls."

Clinton County Legislator Robert Heins, who represents the city, agrees with the mayor.

"I believe in the arts, and I support them, but I don't think in this day and age you can keep property off the tax rolls. There are just too few people paying too much taxes, and this has nothing to do with art."

Heins said he hopes the arts project is successful and that it does generate much-needed sales-tax revenue for the city and county.

"But until that happens, it should be taxed."

E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com

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