- April 25, 2024
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It’s official.
The $3.5 million renovation and expansion of the Ormond Memorial Art Museum is now underway, as volunteer leadership held a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Jan. 22.
The renovation will demolish the existing 1998 addition to the 1915 museum, and replace it with a two-story facility, plus a rooftop terrace. Construction is predicted to take 300 days, according to a press release, and the interior square footage will increase from 5,708 square feet to 10,192 square feet.
“I am thrilled that our ‘hidden gem’ in Ormond Beach is now going to be renovated,” said Nancy Lohman, past board chair and current chair of the project’s capital campaign.
Her husband, Lowell Lohman, also announced they would be donation $500,000 to match their previous gift to the museum, making their contribution a total of $1 million.
“I think that the amazing response from our community is a testament to wanting Ormond Beach to continue to be a special place to live with outdoor and creative spaces that are unique and unexpected,” Museum Director Susan Richmond said.
The gardens will remain open with access from the south. Museum programming will resume online and at off-site locations.
A resident of First Step Shelter died on Monday, Jan. 25, when she was struck by a white pickup truck while crossing U.S. 92.
The woman, who’d only been at the homeless shelter for 20 days, was headed to the nearest bus stop to leave for her first day at a new job, according to a press release by the shelter. Residents have no safe or reasonable access to transportation, the press release reads.
“They don’t even have a sidewalk or a crosswalk,” Executive Director Victoria Fahlberg said. “The speed limit here is 65 mph. Besides the danger in crossing the road, many of our residents use bicycles to get to work and we worry all the time that someone will get hurt. It’s past time to provide a safe way for residents to commute safely.”
A Palm Coast man died on Wednesday, Jan. 20, as a result of a motorcycle crash at North U.S. 1 and Hull Road.
Ormond Beach Police report that officers responded to the scene at approximately 5:12 p.m. The crash involved a black passenger vehicle that was turning onto Hull Road. The driver of the motorcycle, Daniel Hardie, was pronounced dead at the scene.
No others were injured in the crash.
