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| Atascadero Performing Arts Center Committee PO Box 690 Atascadero, CA 93423 805.423.0329 info@atascaderopac.org |
| January 2, 2008 Atascadero News Report addresses feasibility of PAC for Atascadero by Ellen Holland |
Atascadero’s current struggle to find a sense of community and unite behind a
cohesive vision could be a positive vehicle for promoting an Atascadero performing arts
center, Atascadero Performing Arts Center Committee chairman Kathy Hannemann
said of the results revealed in an a feasibility report.
The report, which assesses the need for a PAC, was funded through the $1,000
donations of 100 APACC “founders” and presented to the Atascadero Redevelopment
Agency in November 2007. Conducted by consultant Carrie Blake of New York City-
based Webb Management Services, Inc., the report reveals both a political and social
will for such a facility, Hannemann said.
“[The report] focused our group on the community need for a facility,” she said of the
study, which presents several options for different types of performing arts centers.
“Whatever it is, we know it’s a community effort and we’re looking forward to working
with the community to see what it should be.”
APACC was founded in 2003 by a group of community members who saw the need for
a local performing arts venue and gained its nonprofit status in September of that year.
Its 11-member board meets monthly and continues to encourage public input through
meetings open to all interested in attending. While Hannemann said the group initially
thought the feasibility report would assess the fundraising possibilities for an
Atascadero PAC, it actually set out to discover if there is a political and social will for
such a facility.
“That really has nothing to do with money; that has to do with desire,” Hannemann said.
“We were asking for one thing but, in fact, what we wanted was another.”
The report, completed in November 2007 after a series of extensive community
interviews, reveals “empty-nesters,” a significant and growing population in Atascadero
, have the best propensity to participate in arts programs.
The report also states Atascadero would have the potential to draw in tourists visiting
neighboring wine regions in Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo with an Atascadero
PAC.
“There is a genuine financial need for us to build on tourism for our community,”
Hannemann said.
While the report states Atascadero is experiencing “growing pains” it also said the city
has very clear goals and opportunities for development, such as its current focus on the
development of the city’s economy as well as its downtown. The Atascadero City
Council’s current goals and initiatives, the report said, “suggest that the development of
new arts facilities could play a significant and positive role in helping to achieve broader
community goals around economic, downtown and community development.”
“A new PAC would support city goals centered around improving the character and
appearance of Atascadero , providing a secure revenue base and developing well-
planned neighborhoods,” the report said. “New arts facilities may also provide an
opportunity for the community — which is currently politically divided — to unite over a
common goal and benefit.”
In 2006, APACC conducted an informal study facilitated by the Atascadero Chamber of
Commerce that reveled a demand for multi-purpose facilities that could accommodate
a number of different uses. The feasibility report also outlines a significant demand for
performing arts facilities originating from Atascadero Unified School District .
“It doesn’t appear that the people of Atascadero, or even the North County , are
interested in a single-use facility,” Hannemann said. “[Citizens] want to be certain that
whatever we build is not a Taj Mahal that cannot be used for many things knowing the
changing face of the community.”
As part of report’s conclusion, several recommendations are made in terms of different
types of performing arts facilities. These possibilities include a mid-sized performance
space, new arts education facility, multi-purpose community arts center and an outdoor
performance center, which in terms of APACC’s discussions could be established in
Stadium Park .
“[An Atascadero PAC] needs to be custom designed and designed with our community
in mind,” Hannemann said. “There appears to be culturally, a personality of each and
every community.”
According to Deputy Redevelopment Agency Director Marty Tracey, the report was well
received by the Redevelopment Agency board.
“I think it was a well done report,” Tracey said, adding all indicators seem to show an
Atascadero PAC would be “utilized by the community.”
APACC’s next step will be to discuss the report’s conclusions and start work on the
business and planning stages for a proposed facility.
“Four years is really just a beginning,” Hannemann said. “We’re all committed to
having a facility.”
cohesive vision could be a positive vehicle for promoting an Atascadero performing arts
center, Atascadero Performing Arts Center Committee chairman Kathy Hannemann
said of the results revealed in an a feasibility report.
The report, which assesses the need for a PAC, was funded through the $1,000
donations of 100 APACC “founders” and presented to the Atascadero Redevelopment
Agency in November 2007. Conducted by consultant Carrie Blake of New York City-
based Webb Management Services, Inc., the report reveals both a political and social
will for such a facility, Hannemann said.
“[The report] focused our group on the community need for a facility,” she said of the
study, which presents several options for different types of performing arts centers.
“Whatever it is, we know it’s a community effort and we’re looking forward to working
with the community to see what it should be.”
APACC was founded in 2003 by a group of community members who saw the need for
a local performing arts venue and gained its nonprofit status in September of that year.
Its 11-member board meets monthly and continues to encourage public input through
meetings open to all interested in attending. While Hannemann said the group initially
thought the feasibility report would assess the fundraising possibilities for an
Atascadero PAC, it actually set out to discover if there is a political and social will for
such a facility.
“That really has nothing to do with money; that has to do with desire,” Hannemann said.
“We were asking for one thing but, in fact, what we wanted was another.”
The report, completed in November 2007 after a series of extensive community
interviews, reveals “empty-nesters,” a significant and growing population in Atascadero
, have the best propensity to participate in arts programs.
The report also states Atascadero would have the potential to draw in tourists visiting
neighboring wine regions in Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo with an Atascadero
PAC.
“There is a genuine financial need for us to build on tourism for our community,”
Hannemann said.
While the report states Atascadero is experiencing “growing pains” it also said the city
has very clear goals and opportunities for development, such as its current focus on the
development of the city’s economy as well as its downtown. The Atascadero City
Council’s current goals and initiatives, the report said, “suggest that the development of
new arts facilities could play a significant and positive role in helping to achieve broader
community goals around economic, downtown and community development.”
“A new PAC would support city goals centered around improving the character and
appearance of Atascadero , providing a secure revenue base and developing well-
planned neighborhoods,” the report said. “New arts facilities may also provide an
opportunity for the community — which is currently politically divided — to unite over a
common goal and benefit.”
In 2006, APACC conducted an informal study facilitated by the Atascadero Chamber of
Commerce that reveled a demand for multi-purpose facilities that could accommodate
a number of different uses. The feasibility report also outlines a significant demand for
performing arts facilities originating from Atascadero Unified School District .
“It doesn’t appear that the people of Atascadero, or even the North County , are
interested in a single-use facility,” Hannemann said. “[Citizens] want to be certain that
whatever we build is not a Taj Mahal that cannot be used for many things knowing the
changing face of the community.”
As part of report’s conclusion, several recommendations are made in terms of different
types of performing arts facilities. These possibilities include a mid-sized performance
space, new arts education facility, multi-purpose community arts center and an outdoor
performance center, which in terms of APACC’s discussions could be established in
Stadium Park .
“[An Atascadero PAC] needs to be custom designed and designed with our community
in mind,” Hannemann said. “There appears to be culturally, a personality of each and
every community.”
According to Deputy Redevelopment Agency Director Marty Tracey, the report was well
received by the Redevelopment Agency board.
“I think it was a well done report,” Tracey said, adding all indicators seem to show an
Atascadero PAC would be “utilized by the community.”
APACC’s next step will be to discuss the report’s conclusions and start work on the
business and planning stages for a proposed facility.
“Four years is really just a beginning,” Hannemann said. “We’re all committed to
having a facility.”