Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ford Center Reuse topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DBDA proposes converting Ford/J. Paul Rec Center into community arts center; council backs surveys and next steps
Summary
The Downtown Belmont Development Association presented a plan to lease and repurpose the Ford/J. Paul Rec Center as a community arts hub; council agreed to pursue building assessments and return with costs and potential lease language.
Representatives of the Downtown Belmont Development Association (DBDA) presented a plan to convert the Ford (J. Paul Rec) Center into a community arts and culture center and asked the council to support initial assessments and lease discussions.
DBDA presenters said the center would host classrooms, workshops, exhibits and partnerships with regional arts groups, and argued the building's downtown location would support cultural and economic activity. A long-time local arts educator introduced herself and told the council, "I have been an art teacher for 40 years," citing community support and ongoing programming needs.
DBDA asked the city to allow a low-cost long-term lease to enable volunteer-led renovation and to authorize or fund initial building assessments (structural and hazardous-material surveys). Volunteers and DBDA members offered preliminary cost estimates for early work: quotes in the packet included roughly $4,600 for a structural survey and $4,500 for an asbestos/hazardous-material survey and a rough $50,000 estimate for a modest Phase 1 rehabilitation (ADA, restrooms, basic upgrades). Council members and staff discussed whether DBDA could pursue grants as a nonprofit if it were the party responsible for renovations, or whether city ownership would limit grant eligibility.
Council direction: members expressed broad support for the concept and for moving forward with assessments before any lease or final commitment. One council member said the empty building "just continues to sit there" and urged doing the full set of assessments rather than piecemeal work. Staff said next steps would include re-engaging Gaston County Building Standards about change-of-use requirements, obtaining updated bids, and working with the city attorney on lease language if the council supports a lease structure.
What happens next: council asked staff to return with updated proposals and quotes after a full assessment. DBDA volunteers said they would continue fundraising and refining the business plan while the city obtains survey estimates and clarifies options for lease versus city-led renovation.
