Walton Arts Center Board Recommits To Fayetteville Project

Expansion, Renovation Work Set To Begin In August

FAYETTEVILLE -- Members of the Walton Arts Center's board reaffirmed their commitment Tuesday to the $23 million renovation of the center's 22-year-old building on Dickson Street.

The board overwhelming approved a resolution stating money will not be raised for "new performance facilities within or outside of Fayetteville without having first funded and completed the construction of the Fayetteville expansion."

At A Glance

Walton Arts Center Budget

Also on Tuesday, the Walton Arts Center Council approved a $12.7 million spending plan for fiscal 2015. The plan represents a $1.7 million — or 15.4 percent — increase from fiscal 2014, which ends Monday. Next year’s operational budget anticipates $5.1 million in ticket sales as well as $2.2 million in grants, $1.5 million in corporate support and $841,000 in individual giving. The budget doesn’t include revenue or expenses associated with the expansion and renovation project in Fayetteville.

Source: Staff Report

"This board is absolutely committed to making Fayetteville bigger and better," Jeff Schomburger, one of 20 board members, said Tuesday.

The board's action came one week before the City Council will consider a new governance structure for the center.

The governance proposal, which has been ratified by the center's board, foundation and the University of Arkansas board, would give the Walton Family Foundation direct representation on the board. The board would no longer just oversee operations at the Fayetteville center. It would also officially be in charge of the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion in Rogers and an additional performing arts center planned in Bentonville.

The city would have legal assurances the quality and quantity of programs in Fayetteville would continue at a level commensurate with the arts center's 2013 season -- even after the Bentonville venue is built. And the center would return $1.5 million Fayetteville taxpayers committed in the mid-1980s to establish the arts center's endowment.

"We, as a board ... thought these governance documents addressed the most important issues for all parties involved," said Greg Lee, chairman of the arts center board.

"I believe it is a good document as is," he said.

Multiple City Council members indicated earlier this month they want additional assurances the Fayetteville expansion will be completed as it was pitched to voters in the run-up to a Nov. 12 election. Arts center administrators told the public the project would feature a new lobby, expanded Starr Theater, larger backstage area and new administrative offices.

Alderman Justin Tennant suggested the governance changes go into effect only after the renovation is complete or only after $23 million has been raised.

Any amendments to the proposal would require approval from the university's board, arts center board and foundation.

Steve Clark and Bill Waite were the only members of the arts center board to vote against Tuesday's resolution. Clark and Waite also opposed the governance change May 19.

Waite said he's not convinced the changes are needed to ensure a successful fundraising campaign for the Fayetteville expansion.

Terri Trotter, chief operating officer for the center, wouldn't say Tuesday how much has been raised on top of the hotel, motel and restaurant tax-backed bond issue Fayetteville voters approved in November.

"We're in the quiet phase of the campaign, and we haven't announced other gifts yet," Trotter said.

The bond issue voters approved is expected to generate about $6.5 million. It's up to center officials to raise another $16.5 million.

According to a timeline presented at Tuesday's meeting, center employees are scheduled to move this weekend to administrative offices in the basement of the Metro District Building, 509 W. Spring St.

Trotter said demolition on the center administrative offices will likely begin in mid-July.

Construction on the new lobby is scheduled to begin in August and last through the third quarter of 2015. That's when backstage work and construction on an expanded Starr Theater will begin, according to the timeline. All improvements are slated to be finished by mid- to late 2016.

Trotter said CDI Contractors of Fayetteville has been selected as construction manager and a contract is being negotiated.

The most pressing concern for center officials now will be shoring up trusses in Baum Walker Hall project engineers determined are structurally unsound.

Mike Johnson, chairman of the center board's Facilities Committee, estimated the building on Dickson Street will be closed for two to four weeks while the trusses are stabilized. It could be another six to eight weeks before the trusses are repaired.

NW News on 06/25/2014

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