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October 28, 2008

Downtown arts project advances

Group wins some support for Federal Building plans

By JOE LoTEMPLIO

PLATTSBURGH -- Supporters of a downtown arts corridor received some good news in their battle to obtain the Federal Building in downtown Plattsburgh.

The U.S. Department of Education has approved an application from the North Country Cultural Center for the Arts to obtain and utilize the building, which is located at the corner of Brinkerhoff and Margaret streets.

GSA has final say

The final approval rests in the hands of the federal General Services Administration. A decision is expected to be made next year.

"We understand there is competition for the building, and we are waiting it out," said Susan R. Daul, executive director of the North Country Cultural Center for the Arts.

The center envisions using the building as an accredited arts center, housing a variety of artistic elements.

Plans include working studios in dance, pottery, film, photography, a gallery, museum store, reception and educational information.

Classrooms and residency spaces will also be incorporated into the three-story building.

The Federal Building would serve as a centerpiece of a downtown arts corridor that would also include the revitalized Strand Theatre and the performing-arts stage between Margaret and Durkee streets.

Daul said news of the Department of Education's acceptance of the application was encouraging. The Cultural Center is chartered by that department.

"This is big for us," Daul said.

The General Services Administration is expected to make the final decision on whether the Cultural Center gets the building sometime next spring.

The city is also interested in obtaining the Federal Building, possibly for retail space.

Mayor Donald Kasprzak has said that he would like to see the building on the tax rolls.

"It's always been my belief that we need as much property as possible on the tax rolls to alleviate some of the burden on the taxpayers," he said Monday.

"I hope GSA makes its decision with the best interests of all the taxpayers in mind."

Daul said the Cultural Center is asking people to come in and sign a petition in support of the arts corridor plan and the center's use of the federal building.

Cultural Center staff members were handing out petitions Monday during an educators fair they were attending at the North Country Teacher Resource Center in Sibley Hall.

"We are e-mailing our members and getting a petition going, and hopefully GSA will decide to give us the building," Daul said.

jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com

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