Arts Group Will Restore Historic Complex

Leaders of a local arts organization took possession Thursday of a historic building complex that narrowly escaped demolition by the city twice in the past decade.

In a brief ceremony, Lancaster City Council members praised the Antelope Valley Allied Arts Assn. for agreeing to buy, occupy and restore the Cedar Avenue complex, which once housed the community’s sheriff’s station and government offices.

Some space in the five Art Deco buildings, constructed between 1920 and 1938, will be used for fine arts exhibits and classes. Other areas will be rented to community groups for offices and special events.

At the same time, the 47-year-old association, which promotes painting, sculpture and other fine arts, and provides art scholarships, will move to restore the aging buildings to their original condition.

Historic preservation experts have estimated this work will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. “We will do it a segment at a time,” said Mark Rencoret, the association’s project director. “It will take lots of time and lots of work.”

Council members said the project, at the southwest corner of Lancaster Boulevard and Cedar Avenue, will contribute to the city’s downtown revitalization efforts, which include the construction of a new library and sheriff’s station.

“This is the kind of thing that has to happen in downtown areas or downtown areas will go by the wayside,” Councilman Frank Roberts said.

Previous downtown renewal plans called for demolition of the Cedar Avenue complex, which the city bought from the county in 1987 for $395,000. But local history buffs and other residents protested.

Last November, the council dropped its demolition plans and agreed to sell the complex to the arts group for $249,000, plus 4.5% interest, to be paid over a 40-year period.

To pay for the purchase and renovation, the arts group is negotiating with prospective tenants and will seek historic preservation grants.