The Encinitas Arts, Culture and Ecology Alliance, in partnership with the Encinitas Historical Society, has been awarded $25,000 from San Diego County to help fund its first steps to transform the deteriorating former elementary school site into the Pacific View Academy of Arts.
The money came from the county’s Neighborhood Re-Investment Program, and was secured by Supervisor Dave Roberts. The Encinitas Historical Society, which operates out of the 1883 Schoolhouse on the Pacific View property, is serving as the Alliance’s provisional fiscal sponsor until the Alliance’s tax-exempt status is finalized.
A Right of Entry agreement was unanimously approved by the Encinitas City Council on February 24th, and the Alliance is awaiting the issuance of insurance policies in the next few weeks before it can officially begin performing repairs and maintenance to keep the site from falling into further disrepair. In the meantime, a long-term agreement between the Alliance and the city is still being negotiated.
Plans are to use the grant money for a new steel gate at the site’s main entrance at Third and E Streets, window repairs and fencing to unify the 1883 Schoolhouse with the rest of the property.
Alliance president Garth Murphy and Encinitas Historical Society Carolyn Cope expressed gratitude for the first major grant as well as “to all those who lent their support along the way, and the Encinitas City Council whose foresight in acquiring the property, and taking us under their wing, laid the foundation for this new arts and sustainability education center.”
In the meantime, individuals can contribute to the creation of the new arts center by attending the Encinitas Rotary Club’s Wine and Food Festival at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 4 at the Encinitas Ranch Golf Course, 1275 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas. When buying tickets, designate the Encinitas Historical Society as the beneficiary, otherwise the funds won’t go to Pacific View.
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