Work on Artisan Center Slated for Late This Year
Bristol Herald Courier
The Heartwood Artisan Center will house the offices of The Crooked Road – Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail.
BY DAVID McGEE
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
ABINGDON, Va. – Work on the Heartwood Artisan Center is now expected to begin late this year, a state official said.
The $16 million center planned for the Virginia Highlands Community College campus should go out for bid in September, according to Todd Christensen, deputy director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
The project has been discussed for several years and was originally expected to open as early as 2008. Several factors have delayed the work, including funding complexities and changes in the design.
“The design should be done by the end of July. We’re working on the land transfer and we’ve had some issues with some requirements of some of the grant funding,” Christensen said.
Once the bid process is completed and a contractor selected, groundbreaking ceremonies will likely occur later this year, Christensen said.
Construction is expected to take 16-18 months.
Establishing the center has been a lengthy, complex process, said Diana Blackburn, executive director of the Round the Mountain artisan network.
“It’s just been a long process,” Blackburn said. “There’s been a lot of details to work out and they just take a long time to work through. We’re certainly looking forward to seeing it [center] up there on that hill.”
The center, which will be designed to attract visitors traveling Interstate 81, will sell crafts and promote the region’s art and musical heritage.
It also will house the offices of the artisan network and The Crooked Road – Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, as well as offer a performance venue for The Crooked Road, Christensen said.
The center is expected to have a $28 million annual impact on the region’s economy.
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Reader Reactions
Excuse me there but I’m a self taught Artist from these Mountains and if it weren’t for the creative mind it would be a rather boring reality,much like yours? I’m really excited about it’s Birth and would like to Thank everyone who has played a part from start to finish…....hope they will have what I need or know where to direct me.
Jobs ,Jobs, Jobs, people!!! Go find 16 million to fund job training,industrial expansion and recruitment. What good is a shiny new toy on a hill, when the citizens of this region suffer from no benefit, minimum wage service jobs. The dirty shame is the real heritage of this region is being exploited once again for the benefits of outsiders(tourists)and a select few residents. The reality has been one of poverty ,lack of health care and the need for affordable “real” access to education. I hope this new “cultural” center shows the true hardships of mountain people from yesterday through to today ,that motivated our people to be self reliant and not be a part of a horse and pony show for the amusement of all who file up and down an over crowded interstate highway!
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