Tampa Tribune Article

Friends Of Cultural Center Discuss Renovation Plans

By SEAN C. LEDIG sledig@tampatrib.com
Published: Apr 9, 2005

CARROLLWOOD - After seven years of wrangling with the county, negotiating with St. Mark's Episcopal Church and trying to find consensus among local residents, Tom Jones finally could say the words he has longed to say.

"Welcome to the Carrollwood Cultural Center,'' he said Tuesday night at the first meeting of the Friends of the Carrollwood Cultural Center.

The meeting was at the former St. Mark's Episcopal Church building, 13335 Casey Road. The church, which relocated to a larger home on Cain Road, has removed the pews and most of its property. Only the outline of a cross indicates the building's auditorium once was a church sanctuary.

Jones, who is president of the friends group, said obtaining a building is only the start. Backers need to refurbish the building to turn it into the arts and cultural center they expect to open in mid-2006.

About 20 people attended the meeting to learn about how they can help the fledgling center. Stan Motley, director of the city's Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, praised the group. He said the department depends on its volunteers.

"Our annual budget is $45 million,'' Motley said. "But by their contributions, volunteers enhance our budget by about $35 million.''

The group has 60 dues-paying members and $9,000 in the bank, said board member Trevor Bailey.

"Next year, I hope we can add a couple of zeros to that figure,'' Bailey said.

In the next year, the group plans to make additions to the building, including space for pottery kilns, rooms for arts and crafts and new seating in the auditorium. But the big- ticket item will be new sound and light systems for the auditorium, Bailey said.

"The county has been very generous with us, but they only have so much,'' Bailey said. "Most of the money we'll raise is for a sound and lighting system in the auditorium. And we want to have some upgraded chairs in here.''

The most recent board member, Mindy Ambler, said she was excited about the center's future.

"For the few months I've been involved, I've been impressed with how organized this has been and impressed with the passion that Tom and the others bring to it,'' Ambler said.

For information on the friends group, go to www.carrollwoodcenter.org, or call Jones at (813) 969-3991.

Reporter Sean C. Ledig can be reached at (813) 865-1507