Waupaca considers proposal for old church

By Angie Landsverk

A former church in Waupaca would become the Waupaca Arts Rec Center at St. Mary’s under an idea proposed to the city.

“It’s a huge thing to think about. There’s a lot of support for this idea,” Marci Reynolds told the common council on Nov. 19.

That evening, she presented a vision to turn what was once the site of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church into an arts center.

Programs for both youth and adults would be offered, including private music lessons, art classes and a maker space.

The former sanctuary would be renovated into a space for a concert and event space, serving as one of the revenue sources.

Project costs

The preliminary estimate to make it a reality is $1.3 million.

That includes an estimated $750,000 to renovate the church.

The renovations would include asbestos abatement and HVAC improvements.

Another $450,000 would be needed to equip the center with a kiln, sound systems and a teaching kitchen, as well as to cover construction contingencies and fund the operation for the first two to three years.

“I envision it as a nonprofit,” she said.

Reynolds said there are many grants available for the arts.

“When you have a nonprofit, you can all apply for all the grants,” she said.

The church is on the corner of State, Badger and Division streets.

On the other side of State Street is the Waupaca Recreation Center.

Reynolds said that facility offers athletic opportunities for youth and adults.

Outside of school, children lack a convenient access to the arts, she said.

Reynolds said involvement in the arts improves mental health, creates a sense of belonging and also improves academic performance and career readiness, she said.

“The arts contribute to health,” Reynolds said. “I saw that when I worked in nursing.”

She said the center would offer a more structured and engaged time for students interested in arts, resulting in less idle time after school.

Noting 40% percent of the students in the school district are on free or reduced lunch, Reynolds said there would be a sliding fee scale for youth programs, with a strong scholarship program.

Reynolds said there are also many adults in the community interested in taking classes and noted the city recently received an award for developing an arts and culture plan.

Waupaca is becoming known as an arts community, she said.

Building’s current owner

The building is currently owned by Nino Pedrelli, of State Street Realty Advisors in the Twin Cities area.

The city bought the property for $100,000 about a year ago, and then negotiated a transfer of the property to Pedrelli for $1 so the property remained taxable this year.

Pedrelli is to come up with a plan for the property.

The council voted in September to extend the development agreement with him.

He was to have a preliminary plan by Nov. 15, with council approval of one by Feb. 1.

City Administrator Aaron Jenson said the city has been in contact with him and may amend the agreement again to give Reynolds a few more months to work on the arts center idea.

Reynolds met with Pedrelli and walked through the old church with him and the city’s building inspector.

“He originally thought of presenting it as Plan B,” she said of the idea. “He doesn’t want to own it, so Aaron (Jenson) asked me to present the idea.”

She said there are examples throughout the state of successful models.

The idea was the topic of a community meeting on Nov. 13, before it was presented to the council on Nov. 19.

About 40 people attended the community meeting.

Among them were artists, members of local arts organizations, business owners, residents and city officials.

If the council agrees to pursue the idea, a board will be formed.

There would be engineering, architectural and fundraising feasibility studies.

That would begin next year, followed by construction from 2021 to 2022 and the center then opening in 2023.

Reynolds said a mini capital campaign would start in 2020 to launch the center in an alternate location.

“We want to get it up and running while we’re renovating the building,” she said.

Mayor Brian Smith said there has been some discussion about the idea at the staff level.

He told Reynolds the city will keep her advised and informed about “how we want to proceed.”