Moscow council approves conceptual plan for 1912 Center third-floor renovation
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Summary
The Moscow City Council approved a conceptual schematic for renovating the third floor of the 1912 Center. Heart of the Arts will fund and lead the first phase, which city staff said does not require additional taxpayer funds; councilmember Drew recused from discussion.
The Moscow City Council on July 7 approved a conceptual schematic to renovate the third floor of the 1912 Center, a project presented by Heart of the Arts and funded by that nonprofit rather than the city.
The schematic calls for leveling the auditorium-style subfloor, installing heating, cooling and electrical infrastructure, and adding a commercial-grade culinary lab, a ballroom with about 200 seats, additional single-use restrooms, two west-wing studio spaces with kitchenettes and a sky lounge. The Heart of the Arts plans to fund construction documents immediately and begin fundraising for an initial infrastructure phase that executive director Jenny Kostroff estimated would likely cost about $1 million to $1.5 million.
The project overview was presented to council by David Schott, director of parks, and Jenny Kostroff, executive director of Heart of the Arts, who said Heart of the Arts will pay for the work and do fundraising for construction. Kostroff described the culinary lab as a commercial kitchen with multiple teaching stations, a scullery, grease trap and a prep area designed to support teaching and vendors from the farmers market. She said the infrastructure phase would stub in electrical and plumbing, level the subfloor, and add rooftop HVAC units so later tenant or donor-sponsored fit-outs could proceed on an a la carte basis.
Kostroff told the council the nonprofit is paying for the construction documents now and that Knit Studios is preparing those documents. She said the organization will rely on community fundraising and grants; she emphasized that the project is not being paid for by the city’s general taxpayer budget beyond existing contract services the city already has with Heart of the Arts.
Council members asked a few clarifying questions about details such as bathroom counts and plumbing locations; Kostroff said those items are being refined with the architect and the city’s community development office. Councilmember Drew stepped away and recused himself from the discussion for a potential conflict of interest earlier in the meeting.
A motion to approve the conceptual schematic was moved and seconded; the council voted to approve the concept. Kostroff said two public fundraising events are planned this summer and early fall to support the project: a preview “penthouse picnic” on Aug. 23 ($100 ticket) and a lower-cost “pie in the sky” event on Sept. 7 ($25 ticket), with proceeds directed to the renovation.
The approval permits Heart of the Arts to finish construction documents and continue fundraising for the infrastructure phase. Council members and staff praised the partnership between the city and Heart of the Arts for preserving and activating the 1912 Center while keeping major renovation costs off the city’s general fund.
