Multimedia Reporting (Kuhr-Musser)

A city department and a nonprofit music academy are competing to use the vacant Carnegie Library at Ninth and Vermont.

Each group argues it would use the space for cultural and recreational opportunities that will enrich downtown Lawrence.

“Between the Carnegie building, the Arts Center, Liberty Hall, and Watkins’ Museum, we are going to have a cultural mecca that is unique to this city,” said Thom Alexander, executive director of Americana Music Academy.

“We turn away upwards 100 inquiries for the gazebo space in South Park for weddings and receptions. This facility could help accommodate those needs. It would be a great place for receptions,” said Fred DeVictor, director of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department.

The Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department and Americana Music Academy are the two remaining groups being considered to use the building.

The city commission is considering a design for the expansion of the Carnegie Library, vacant since the Lawrence Arts Center relocated in 2002. A proposed addition would add about 1,600 square feet onto the north side of the 10,000 square foot structure. The addition of an elevator and upgraded rest rooms are necessary for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. City officials expect the project to cost about $700,000. A portion of the city budget will pay for the renovations.

Fred DeVictor, director of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department, said the city commission should consider those public funds when selecting the future occupant.

“The city will be spending tax dollars to bring this facility back to useful space. Part of our argument is that if tax dollars are going to pay for this project, we feel that it should stay in the public arena,” DeVictor said.

The department currently has offices in the Community Building, the East Lawrence Center, Holcomb, and Prairie Park. Although the building would not be large enough to house all of the department’s operations, DeVictor said the extra space would relieve demands in other facilities around town.

Among other potential users, DeVictor recently met with a square dance group interested in the space.

The city has agreed to pay for the building’s expansion, but the occupant will be required to cover the operationg costs. Mayor Dennis “Boog” Highberger said each group’s finances are a key criteria for the city commission’s decision.

“One thing we are concerned about is their financial stability and having the resources to keep up on maintenance and operating costs,” Highberger said.

DeVictor said the city would include operating costs, such as staffing and furnishing the structure, into the Parks and Recreation Department’s budget.

“We are part of the city. From our point of view, we would request a budget from the city commission to pay for the operations,” DeVictor said.

He predicted the department could rent space to outside groups to recoup some operating costs.

DeVictor said Park and Recreation’s presence downtown would help Lawrence by bringing people into the area.

Thom Alexander believes his organization—Kansas’ only nonprofit roots music school—would help downtown in much the same way.

“Right now, I could imagine bringing 200-400 people per week downtown who don’t go down there,” Alexander said.

The academy has a staff of 39 professional musicians who teach music lessons to about 1,300 students from Lawrence and the surrounding areas. Alexander expects that number to exceed 1,500 at the end of this year.

The academy has outgrown its current location on the 1400 block of Massachusetts St. Inadequate space limits the amount of programs the academy is able to offer, Alexander said.

“We’ve had to severely cut-back on our percussion classes,” he said.

Their current location does not provide well-insulated rooms to contain the sound, which disrupts the other lessons. The academy lacks space to relocate the percussion classes, Alexander said

Despite limited space, Americana does not turn away students—enrollment has nearly tripled since Alexander founded the organization in 2002. The group has found creative, if inconvenient, ways to accommodate growing student demands. For example, instructors conduct lessons out of their homes. Alexander said his organization needs the Carnegie Library facility to add new programs and offer better services to its students.

If awarded the facility, Alexander said the academy would be able to consolidate all of its classes into one building and provide proper rehearsal space for its various music courses.

Alexander hopes to receive the building rent-free.

“In return, the city wouldn’t be required to pay for the monthly upkeep of the building,” Alexander said.

But Mayor Highberger said he would prefer that the group pay the city rent, although he did not specify a price.

Alexander plans to finance operating costs primarily through student fees, donations and grants. In 2004, the academy collected about $68,000 in student program fees. In addition, the organization has received nearly $25,000 in grants over the last four years.

Alexander said he would consider occasionally renting space to public and other nonprofit organizations that can’t afford the rental prices in private buildings such as Liberty Hall.

Mayor Dennis “Boog” Highberger is undecided about who should receive the Carnegie Library space. He said it makes sense for the city-owned building to remain public, although the public vs. private issue is not his main concern.

“Parks and Rec has identified several needs. We might be able to accommodate their needs elsewhere,” Highberger said.

The mayor said both groups would benefit the community and downtown Lawrence.

“Certainly both are strong proposals,” Highberger said.

Mike Wildgen, city manager, expects the expansion project to begin next June. It should be complete sometime next year, Wildgen said.

The Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department and Americana Music Academy will defend their proposals before the city commission at a study session March 9.