Local News in Brief : Huntington Beach : Building Purchase OKd for a City Arts Center

The City Council this week approved the purchase of a downtown building as the future home of a municipal arts center--the city’s first.

City cultural affairs supervisor Naida Osline said the arts center will be similar to Los Angeles galleries where artists are involved.

“It won’t be a collection; it’s not a museum, not a fixed display,” said Osline, who will be the center’s director. “But (what is featured) will depend on community input as to what ultimately will be on exhibit,” she added.

Huntington Beach, the county’s third largest city with a population of about 185,000, has no fine arts galleries, several artists and center enthusiasts told the council Monday night.

Patrons have been donating and spending their money in support of the arts in other cities, the speakers said, adding that it is extremely difficult to raise funds without a permanent address.

Hoping to create a cultural and social magnet in the heart of the downtown redevelopment area, city officials previously decided on the building at 538 Main St., and began negotiating with the owner, Southern California Edison Co.

City Administrator Paul E. Cook urged the council to delay the $758,000 purchase of the building, saying it would be unwise to spend the money when the city was not sure where it would get an estimated $10 million for rebuilding the city’s pier.

But the council voted 5 to 2 to buy the 10,500-square-foot building, to authorize proposals from architects and to direct the city staff to begin planning its operation. City officials estimate that it will cost another $250,000 to improve the building.

Mayor John Erskine and Councilman Tom Mays voted against buying the property at the Monday meeting. Council members Wes Bannister, Ruth Finley, Peter Green, Jack Kelly and Grace Winchell voted in favor.

Osline said the arts center is expected to open in 18 months to two years. She added:

“We want to do a program that showcases contemporary art, video, performance art, living art shows, as well as serving the other interests” the public may express.