The Auburn City Council unanimously voted to provide funding for Auburn University’s proposed Performing Arts Center.
Approved at the council’s Tuesday meeting, this agreement between the city of Auburn and Auburn University would allow the project to receive $1.5 million from the city over the course of three years, or $500,000 per year from 2018 to 2020.
Beginning in 2021, the city will also provide $50,000 per year in additional funds to the University to go toward the center’s continued operation and programming for Auburn’s Community Theater program, which will be allowed to host performances in the center.
As part of the agreement, the University will name the lawn and porch area of the center in honor of the city.
Jane DiFolco Parker, vice president of development at Auburn University, and Leah O’Gwynn from Auburn University’s Office of Special Projects presented the University’s plans for the upcoming center at the council’s Committee of the Whole meeting Jan. 10.
Along with the $15 million from the city and $25 million the University is providing to fund the project, a gift from 1957 Auburn University graduates John and Rosemary Brown has made the construction of the center possible.
The Auburn University Performing Arts Center is planned to open in 2019 and will be located on South College Street across from the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art.
“We look forward to it,” said Mayor Bill Ham.
The council also voted down a rezoning ordinance on Cox Road near Interstate 85 after several families residing in the area expressed concerns over potential impacts to their property and ways of life the development might bring.
Ward 8 Councilman Tommy Dawson expressed concern over the ordinance as well, citing traffic congestion along Cox Road, which would only be increased by more development in the area.
“Cox Road has suffered enough,” Dawson said. “I’m not against somebody buying property for development to better themselves, but I’m just going to plead with you to think about what you’re doing tonight and to not vote for this ordinance.”
Dawson and many of the residents who spoke at the public hearing acknowledged that commercial development coming to Cox Road was inevitable but impractical at this time due, in part, to much-needed road widening.
“I think there might be a time when you’ll come back to us wanting to have your property rezoned,” said Ward 2 Councilman Ron Anders. “I don’t know when that time could be, but it seems to be premature at this time, and they’re raising families and living life out there, and we need to protect their homes.”
The ordinance would have rezoned about 3.29 acres from a rural zone to a Comprehensive Development District zone.
“I challenge you: Come out there to Cox Road from four o’clock in the afternoon to six o’clock in the afternoon,” Dawson said. “You will not believe what you’ll see.”
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