GILROY
– A special city task force charged with developing guidelines
for revitalizing downtown Gilroy will wait until May to review an
ultra-modern arts and culture center design.
GILROY – A special city task force charged with developing guidelines for revitalizing downtown Gilroy will wait until May to review an ultra-modern arts and culture center design.
The Downtown Specific Plan Task Force was going to weigh in on the leading architectural design for Gilroy’s future arts and culture center at its April 1 to 3 meeting. However, the group’s slate is full for the three-day session.
Gilroy’s Recreation Superintendent Cheryl Bolin said the downtown task force will likely review the landmark architectural design in May. After that, city staff will take the design to the Arts and Culture Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission for further input.
All sessions are open to the public, which is also invited to weigh in. Three alternative designs for the arts and culture center will also be provided at those meetings.
“Our goal is to get community input,” Bolin said.
The geometric teal and gold building was a near consensus favorite of the special task force formed by City Council to select the architectural style of the $11.5 million center.
The arts and culture center will be located on Monterey and Seventh streets downtown. It will be the premier spot for plays, musicals, art exhibits and other cultural offerings in Gilroy. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2008.
The city also announced a City Council briefing for March 29. Council members will get to see all four designs and hear the task force’s reasons for choosing the modern design.
The Cultural Facilities Task Force choice surprised even its own members. Many were seeking a more traditional looking building for the historic downtown. However, after seeing detailed sketches, the group decided the marble, glass and pre-patina copper was their favorite.
While the group’s choice is final, input gathered over the next several weeks may be used to tweak the modern design. The task force will meet in May or June to discuss the comments from the public and the various city groups.
“Those designs are conceptual. They are not designs from an architect to a builder saying how to build it,” said Donna Pray, a member of the Cultural Facilities Task Force. “Just because (the modern design) was our favorite by consensus it doesn’t mean a little can’t be pulled from here and there.”
Council’s final approval on the arts and culture center is a long way off. First, the city’s historical and planning commissions must approve the task force’s recommendation. Also, plans for regular operations and annual funding must be drawn up.
Vist www.gilroydispatch.com to select which of the four designs should be Gilroy’s future arts and culture center.
