Symphony Weighs Move to Arts Plaza Offices : Thousand Oaks: The City Council will consider authorizing the start of lease negotiations with the county’s consolidated orchestras.

Ventura County’s newest symphony is contemplating a move into available office space at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, officials said Friday.

The move would give New West Symphony a showcase spot for its headquarters, just one flight down and a few hundred yards away from the Charles E. Probst Performing Arts Center, where the orchestra will perform frequently.

The Thousand Oaks City Council will consider OKing the start of lease negotiations at Tuesday’s meeting, and symphony and city officials said the signs are good that a lease will be approved.

New West would occupy up to 1,500 square feet of office space on the plaza’s second floor, next to space promised to County Supervisor Frank Schillo.

The new group was formed last month when the county’s two competing orchestras, the Conejo Symphony and the Ventura County Symphony, merged.

Combining resources from the two symphonies made the move into new quarters possible, said Dwight Brown, the group’s chief financial officer.

“The Conejo Symphony never could have afforded this,” Brown said. “You would not believe what a difference it makes not to be fighting across the (Conejo) grade. Before, we essentially had two minor league farm clubs. Being in this new big league really makes a difference.”

The Conejo Symphony has been operating--rent-free--from an extra room in the law offices of Cohen, Alexander & Clayton.

Earlier this year, symphony operators hoped that they might move into the available space at the Civic Arts Plaza when North Ranch businessman Charles Probst began negotiating a lease with the city to open an office for arts groups.

Probst reportedly was interested in providing a main administrative office to house Thousand Oaks’ nonprofit cultural groups. But that lease fell through at the last minute, and although the city has had nibbles, it has not been able to find another tenant.

Councilman Andy Fox said he is pleased that the symphony is interested.

“That would be an outstanding use for the space,” Fox said. “That would be perfect.”

Besides having a centrally located office, symphony administrators will be able to communicate easier with city and theater officials, Brown said.

“You’re right there where the Board of Governors meets,” he said. “You’re right there with the city people. Frank Schillo is going to be immediately next door to us. We’ve got theater director Tom Mitze right upstairs.”

New West will continue to rent an office in downtown Ventura, in the former headquarters of the Ventura County Symphony, Brown said. But the main fund-raising and outreach functions would be based in Thousand Oaks.

Monthly rent for the Civic Arts Plaza space is about $1.75 per square foot, but Brown said the symphony is pursuing ways to cut that. The cost is adjusted to include the price of installing hallways, lighting and bathrooms in the unfinished space.

Through its members, New West hopes to find a builder or contractor willing to donate the materials and labor, which could drop the rental to $1.55 per square foot.

“We’re real excited about this,” Brown said. “It’s a good move for all concerned.”