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A workshop Tuesday may determine the course of renovations
By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 14, 2001
ST. PETE BEACH -- The City Commission is expected to decide Tuesday whether the city and the St. Pete Beach Art Institute will jointly renovate the Don Vista Building.
The outcome also could determine whether the art group remains at its 40-year home in the Don Vista or moves its activities to another location, possibly outside the city.
Last week, the institute's Johnna Patterson asked commissioners to intervene in her group's negotiations with City Manager Carl Schwing over usage, control and renovation of the historic building. Patterson said Schwing's apparent decision to halt the city's participation in the effort forced the group to abandon efforts to obtain a state grant.
Commissioners previously endorsed spending up to $150,000 for exterior renovations, with the expectation that $150,000 in grants and about $300,000 in art club contributions would fund the project.
The city and the art club were awarded a Florida Historical Restoration grant for $27,300 in November, but then had to decline the money when they could not reach a formal agreement on the art group's use of the Don Vista.
The art group's suggestion to pursue additional grant funding to finance interior renovations further complicated the discussions. The proposal appeared to increase the city's portion of the renovation costs to $250,000 or more -- a cost Schwing said was more than the city could justify.
Schwing said Tuesday he would like to keep the negotiations with the art group "on track" but was concerned that the amount of space and time the institute wants at the Don Vista would make it difficult for other city groups to also use the building.
"I feel strongly that we need to do interior renovations and I also understand that if the institute contributes money that we could not get otherwise, they would need to be recognized as a partner. But it's a matter of degree," Schwing said.
The art group has asked to use the entire first floor of the building six days a week and wants to continue operating its gift shop gallery.
"I have a problem with that," the city manager said. He and the city's attorney question whether these uses would violate restrictions set by the federal Department of the Interior when it turned over the property to the city more than 20 years ago.
City Attorney Jim DeVito said the proposed agreement is "too general" and appears to put the group and the city on "equal terms" regarding control of the building.
The city's leisure services department has recommended that the city "re-establish the center as a viable community recreation asset" by broadening the Don Vista's usage for other activities, tightening control of the building through a strict policy on the issuance of keys, and assigning a full-time staff person there.
Patterson told the commission that the art club has no interest in "controlling" the building and agreed that it should be used more efficiently. And though the group has investigated moving its operations to Gulfport or some other location, she stressed that members prefer to remain at the Don Vista.
"We are a vibrant organization and it is sad that a project such as this is proving so difficult," Patterson said. "I fear we have lost sight of what we started to accomplish: creating a crown jewel for the city."
"You've been there a long time, but it has a lot of other uses. We need to know what the city is expected to fund and what are the restrictions on its use," Mayor Ward Friszolowski told Patterson last week. "I don't know that there is a problem (with the art group) but we want to make sure that (the Don Vista) is used for as many activities as possible."
The commission "is all in favor of moving the project along," according to Vice Mayor Jim Myers. He said the workshop will determine just how the city wants the building renovated and used, as well as how the renovations would be financed.
"I am very passionate about saving this building," Patterson said, "but I'm not getting the feeling that there is still enthusiasm about this project. I think we've gotten crossed signals and we need input. A workshop would be fabulous."
If a deal can be reached, a new round of grants will be available in the spring, Patterson said.