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Published on 02/01/1999 All articles from this issue

MV approves new location for music and arts school

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By Linda Taaffe / Town Crier Staff Writer

The Community School of Music & Arts ended its two-year search for a new permanent location Jan. 26 after the Mountain View City Council unanimously voted to lease a portion of city-owned land to the nonprofit school.

The council voted during its regular meeting to enter into an agreement with the arts school to lease 1.6 acres of land located at the San Antonio Loop - a 1.8-acre parcel of land between Central Expressway and California Avenue - over the next 55 years.

Under the agreement, the arts school could build a new campus and lease the property for $61,000 a year. The city agreed to reconfigure a ramp off of San Antonio and reinstate a left-turn lane from San Antonio Road to California Avenue.

Construction and land development will cost the city about $975,000, according to city staff. This amount would be earned back through rental revenues from the school and the future rental of a site next door. The agreement came after a six-month negotiation period between city council and school officials.

Not all residents agreed with the council. Some argued that the school's lease should be set at a fair market value. Others said the site has too much traffic and is dangerous.

"You need to know how large of a subsidy you're giving here," Mountain View resident Gary Wesley told the council. "The truth is when you give away money to a nonprofit, it's no longer available to other causes."

Council members said they had received nearly 200 postcards from residents supporting the school.

"I think it's proven its worth and value in the community," said resident Rose Filicetti. "The school represents more than just a monetary value. It represents something critical to the community."

From the start, school officials said they had hoped to find a location in Mountain View, where the school was founded 30 years ago and has since served 250,000 people.

Andrea Temkin, executive director at the school, said she was "thrilled" with the council's decision. She said the site is centrally located and close to public transportation.

"We're eager to move forward," Temkin said.

School officials plan to raise $1.5 million for a state-of-the-art facility that could include an outdoors performance area. City staff said construction will take nine months and should be completed by next summer.

School officials began searching for a new school site two years ago after learning that the lease at Huff School would be terminated when the Mountain View School District reopened the school to accommodate the district's growing enrollment.

School officials are investigating an interim site for summer camp and private lessons between the time the school must vacate its site at Huff School in June and when the new building is ready for occupancy, a spokeswoman said.

The Community School of Music & Arts is presenting a free concert featuring chamber musicians, Ahn Trio at 5:30 p.m. Friday, at the school, 253 Martens Ave., Mountain View.

For more information, call 961-0342.