- April 26, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Less than a month after reopening, a small fire at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center has shuttered the building once again.
The city of Ormond Beach reported on Monday, March 11, that a small fire had broken out at the PAC on Saturday, March 9. Due to the damage, the PAC will be temporarily closed as the city assesses the necessary repairs and restoration work needed.
“We are deeply saddened by this event and are working diligently to understand the source of the fire and the full extent of the damage,” the city stated on its Facebook page.
The PAC had reopened to the community after 18 months of construction and a $1.7 million renovation on Saturday, Feb. 17.
The city said to the Observer that the fire is suspected to have begun inside the theater, but that it is waiting on a report from its insurance company’s fire investigator. The Leisure Services office in the PAC was not impacted.
Lucy Jackman, president of the Friends of the performing Arts Center, called the incident a “gut-punch.”
Jackman, who spearheaded the seven year push to renovate the PAC, was informed of the fire Sunday morning.
“I’m not often at a loss for words, but I must say, I was at that time,” Jackman said.
The good thing, she added, is that no one was inside the building at the time of the incident.
Most of the damage incurred is believed to be water damage due to the fire sprinklers.
The Observer also reached out to PAC Supervisor Marc Schwartz via email about the incident, and he replied that he was “very sad this happened.”
Jackman said all shows through the end of April have been canceled. People who bought tickets will receive refunds. The art from the Florida Women’s Art Association on display has also been removed from the building. Only one art piece, Jackman said, sustained minimal damage.
The PAC had 13 shows scheduled prior to the fire. Since reopening, only three shows were able to use the facility, Jackman said.
She hopes that the community will continue to support the PAC when it reopens as well as the fundraisers by the Friends.
“I hope I’m correct about this — I don’t foresee it being closed as long as it was for the entire project,” Jackman said.
The public hearing for Tomoka Reserve’s proposed rezoning request scheduled for the March 19 City Commission meeting is once again being postponed.
This time, it’s due to the recent fire at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, where the city planned to host the meeting.
“We are actively working to secure an alternate location for this item due to the large public interest and will make sure it is properly advertised well in advance,” the city wrote on its Facebook page.
The City Commission will instead hold a regular meeting at City Hall at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19.
The Florida Department of Transportation is continuing to propose improvements to A1A — the latest being a pedestrian safety and road resurfacing project from north of Roberta Road to the Flagler County line.
FDOT will hold a public meeting to discuss the project on Thursday, March 14. FDOT plans to add 14 crosswalks and lower the speed limit on this 6.4-mile stretch of A1A. The fully-funded project is estimated to cost $2.7 million for design and $15.9 million for construction.
The community is invited to attend the meeting in person between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens at 78 E. Granada Blvd.; or by tuning in virtually at 5:30 p.m. For the latter, participants must register in advance at https://bit.ly/3S7WgOm.
