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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels August 28, 2004 Fire wall keeps arts guild out of Briscoe school By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings A last minute requirement could permanently sidetrack the Lithia Arts Guild of Oregon's art wing project at the former Briscoe school site. After more than six months of negotiations with the Ashland School District, the Ashland-based guild planned to move into the school building on Monday. The guild was also in the process of signing a lease agreement with the district earlier this week. On Monday, city officials told the guild that a fire wall in the building needed to be bigger and would cost $10,000 instead of the $3,000 it earmarked. They were told they could not move in until the wall is in place. "We have a project that's ready to be launched ... yet the building of a fire wall hinders us," said Debbie Lorray, project director for the arts guild. "We don't feel like it's the city's fault or anything like that. It's just that the timing of this is horrible for us because our artists were ready to move in." The guild had planned to use six classrooms for 15 artists to use as studio and exhibition space. It also planned to hold craft fairs and arts displays along with its sister organization, the Lithia Artisans Market of Ashland, and agreed to donate time to teach art to Ashland students. Lorray said the guild has worked for several months with the city to ensure it met state requirements. Fire wall troubles The guild was told about the fire wall early in the process. It was needed to separate the guild from the classrooms of the Oregon Child Development Coalition Migrant Head Start Program, which moved into Briscoe last year. City officials estimated it would cost about $3,000 for the wall, and the guild received $4,000 from a City of Ashland Economic and Cultural Development grant to help pay for the wall. The guild planned to use the remaining $1,000 for lighting for its exhibition space. The project was also approved by the school board and the planning commission. The guild had already received a conditional use permit from the planning department and approval from the school board. About two weeks ago, independent engineer Jim McNamara double-checked the requirements. Working closely with Mike Broomfield, the city's building inspector, he looked through code requirements to figure out exactly what type of wall was needed, McNamara said. "It was more complex than usual because it's unique to have two occupants in the same building, using a 60-year-old school, so it took a little bit of research to figure it out," he said. McNamara determined that the wall, slated for the school corridor, had to be a 2-by-4 stud wall with two layers of sheet rock and a door. It also had to go from the floor to the school roof. Hope to find money Lorray, the arts guild's planning director, said she and her fellow guild members are trying to figure out ways to raise the extra $6,000. Plans for the space are on hold until the fire-wall issue is resolved. She hopes the community help them raise the necessary funds. Lorray is concerned if they don't raise the funds in about a month, the project cold be put on indefinite hold. "We have high hopes a fairy godmother will come in, and there'll be no delays at all," she said. "We just have to wait and see and hope for the best." Ashland Schools Superintendent Juli Di Chiro said she hoped the guild would be able to find the money. "I think it is a win-win situation," she said. "The community is supportive of the project and it is a good use of the building and is compatible with the head start program. It also give kids in the district more options in art." Di Chiro said the district is not able to help with the cost. "We just don't have the ability to give away taxpayer money on someone leasing the building," she said. "When you're leasing a building in this way, these things can come up." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams