WILLMAR -- The downtown Barn Community Theatre "Shed'' will be given a visual makeover, thanks to a grant of paint from the Southwest Minnesota Foundation and the Valspar Corporation of Minneapolis.
The Shed, used by the theater for rehearsal space and prop and set storage, is considered "dilapidated, a public eyesore and public safety nuisance and a poor cousin to other historically preserved and visually appealing downtown buildings,'' according to the grant application. "The Great American Barn Theatre Shed Makeover,'' as proponents are calling it, will be the touchstone of the Willmar Design Center's plans to renew downtown Willmar as the "heart of the All-America City,'' proponents say.
Approval of the grant was announced during the Design Center's monthly board meeting on Thursday. Project supporters say the interior and exterior makeover will return the historical integrity to the 1937 art deco-style building.
"It will become a community event,'' said Beverly Dougherty of the Willmar Design Center. "There will be a lot of activity on the building, and I think a great improvement to probably the worst-looking building downtown in the central business district.''
Dougherty said the grant was approved because it represents a cooperative effort among organizations. She thanked Design Center administrative assistant Sharon Mace for writing the grant; The Barn Theatre board for allowing the project; architect Richard Engan for assistance; and volunteers from Kandiyohi County United Way's Youth As Resources program who will do the painting.
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Dougherty said Valspar requires the project be completed by Sept. 30, but she hopes it will be done in time for the annual Celebrate Art! Celebrate Coffee! program earlier in September.
The cracked, chipped and weathered exterior green paint will be replaced with a combination of ivory, barn red and caramel finishes. The project will emphasize the original architecture, exterior masonry and porcelain panels.
Besides exterior refinishing, workers will paint seven new, framed interior window boxes that The Barn will use to promote upcoming productions, said Dougherty.
In other business Thursday, the board appointed Dougherty as coordinator for Design Center projects and named Tom Osaki, an architect from St. Paul, as Design Center senior urban planner.
Dougherty stepped down from her position as Design Center president to take the new job, and vice president Judy Wright was appointed president. The executive board will recruit a new vice president.
Board members said they wanted someone in charge of projects who could communicate the goals and plans of the Design Center's committees to other entities such as Main Street Willmar, the city and county Economic Development Commission and to Willmar city officials.
"This will give me the time to really go after the projects rather than organize the meetings and the committees,'' said Dougherty. "I hope I can bring to competition some of the projects we've talked about, and that's my goal.''
The board said Osaki will serve as a resource person for Dougherty. Osaki was a member of the Minnesota Design Team, which met twice with local residents in 2005 to work on suggestions for community and downtown improvements.
