Arts organizations in Fayette

County will soon have a home to call their own, thanks to the efforts

of many local supporters of the arts.

Construction to build an approximately

20,000-sq. ft., 440-seat brick warehouse to accommodate the more than

30 homeless arts organizations will begin in April.

The new community arts center

will be dubbed the Warehouse Playhouse 74. The Playhouse will be on Ga.

Highway 74 between the new Peachtree City Police Department and Crosstown

Road.

The building is expected to

be completed within approximately eight months after construction is begun.

"If everything continues

to go well, we will hold our first production, 'It's a Wonderful Life,'

during the Christmas holidays this year," said Joan Velsmid, cochairman

of a capital campaign and development task force.

The floor plan calls for a

440-seat theater, a lobby gallery suitable for art shows, a concession

area, a storage area for equipment and props, a backstage area with dressing

rooms for cast members, a business office and six rooms for educational

uses. Specialists in various disciplines are working with the architects

to ensure that all the needs for a complete arts center are met.

According to the other cochairman,

Dennis Glenn, "A high priority will be placed on offering children

alternative non-sports extracurricular activities to nurture social skills,

artistic creativity and academic achievement. Developing local talent

also negates the necessity of importing talent from outside Fayette County."

The task force is coordinating

fund-raising and arts activities under the umbrella of the Fayette Players

and Community Theater Inc., a not-for-profit group. In addition to the

cochairmen, Helen Heard, widow of well-known legislator and community

leader Paul Heard, is lending her support as honorary chairman.

"I am delighted to be

part of an organization that's going to help get all of the Fayette County

arts together under one roof," said Heard. "I think it's going

to be a tremendous thing for the entire community to be able to come together

and enjoy family entertainment and see the talented people of this county

able to use their gifts in a convenient location."

Task force members are meeting

regularly to set up fund-raisers, contact businesses for in-kind donations

and submit requests for grants. Thirty business leaders, educators and

artists from all genres from musicians to artists to actors are donating

their time to ensure the venture is on track fiscally.

The arts community has been

frustrated with the lack of a stable and affordable location for theater

groups and other art groups to practice, have shows or display art exhibits.

Over the years groups such

as the Endowment Committee for the Cultural Arts, Fayette Community Theater,

Offshoot Productions, ballet companies, artisans and local arts supporters

have attempted to engage public and political support to build a cultural

arts center. These efforts have met with resistance for a variety of reasons.

Costs to taxpayers for construction

and ongoing operations, permitted use restrictions, and the perceived

strain on the current infrastructure due to the influx of potentially

large crowds from surrounding counties are just a few objections that

have been voiced.

The Board of Education has

allowed the use of schools for arts functions, for a fee. But groups must

change venue based on availability and they are unable to store props

and costumes between shows.

Sams Auditorium had been a

previous location for some theater productions, but when the school board

needed the space for school productions, theater groups were once again

homeless. The loss of space spurred local groups to increase their efforts

to find a solution.

The recently closed theater

in Westpark Walk was strongly considered for a period of time. The high

cost of renovation, the tepid response to their overtures from the owner

of the property and the fact that it would still be too small to address

all the needs of arts groups ultimately made it a poor choice.

A bond referendum to purchase

Braelinn Baptist Church in Peachtree City failed in November 2001. The

church would have been used for the arts, senior programs and other community

activities.

"Everything fell into

place fast once the property on Hwy. 74 was located," said Velsmid.

Woody Johnson with Southeast

Properties, owner of the property, architect John Baudry and builder Will

Thompson with CTJ Construction all signed on enthusiastically to the Warehouse

project.

"I'm excited about the

project - it is a much needed facility in the county. I think it will

create synergy for the arts community and I'm proud to be part of it,"

said Johnson. Southeast Properties will lease the building to the nonprofit

group.

Southeast Properties also has

volunteered to accept in-kind donations to defray costs. Johnson said,

"We will credit