ArtsRevive has had plans to transform the Carneal building at the corner of Water Avenue and Church Street into a cultural arts center for a few years now, but the recent collapse of part of the riverbank has caused them to start work a little sooner than expected.

According to Martha Lockett, executive director for ArtsRevive, work has started to make sure the building is stabilized in case the bank continues to fall away.

“We are moving ahead on the outside work because of the fragility of the riverbank. It’s been sitting there since April, and it is going to continue to deteriorate until something is done, and we just decided we weren’t willing to take the risk,” Lockett said.

“We are stepping out and doing it to make sure that the property is okay. The building is not falling in. We’re fixing it so that it won’t.”

Lockett said they haven’t had any problems with the building or property, but they want to make sure it stays that way.

Work started last week on the demolition of the pavilion. Once it is taken down structural engineers will pull up part of the courtyard.

“We’re putting pylon reinforcements down to the riverbank, and then we’re relaying the concrete,” Lockett said. “We’ve been dealing with structural engineers and geotechnical engineers, who tell us if the riverbank goes away we will become an overlook instead of a riverbank.”

Lockett said around 11 reinforced pills will be placed in the ground, and the concrete will be put over them, ensuring a sturdy foundation for the courtyard and pavilion.

Contractors expect the first phase of work to be completed by December if there aren’t any roadblocks or issues with the weather, but this is just the beginning.

“This is the first step in our comprehensive capital campaign that is coming, and if we’re successful over the next few years we will activate that entire end of Water Avenue,” Lockett said.

Once the building is stabilized further renovations will see a conference room, two bathrooms and heating and air conditioning added to the Carneal building.

“We’re working really hard not to change the character of the building. It will be urban, but it will have heat and air, which means it can become the Carneal Cultural Arts Center,” Lockett said.

“We wanted a space where we can have exhibits, lectures and book talks, adult classes and children classes and the non-existent Tuesday night quilting club can come in and meet there, or we can have a class on how to change chair bottoms.”

Lockett said there are also plans to turn the building across the street into a gallery and studio for local artists as well as a community garden on Church Street.

“We really want it to become a useable, open, vital part of downtown,” Lockett said. “The city identified Carneal as the anchor to the arts and culture district that they envisioned down Water Avenue, so if we can get this up and going, then that becomes a bookend to the amphitheater and the Old Depot.”

ArtsRevive’s capital campaign will begin soon with a goal of raising $1 million. Lockett said that is how much it will take to complete all of the renovations and new additions to the Carneal building and future gallery and garden. Look for more on the campaign in future Times-Journal editions.