WBIW.com News - local

Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana

Former JC Penney Building To Become Stone Gate Arts And Education Cultural Center

Last updated on Monday, June 9, 2014

(BEDFORD) - The former JC Penney and Downtown Convention Center building at 15th and J streets will be transformed into the Stone Gate Arts and Education Cultural Center as part of the Stellar Community project.

The Bedford Board of Works approved Bloomington architect Christine Matheu to do the project for $152,000. Matheu was also the architect for the Lawrence County Museum of History, which is next door to the Stone Gate site.

The building will be used to house college classes, such as those offered by Ivy Tech Community Collegeand Oakland City University-Bedford. Cultural events and art exhibits will also be held in the building.

If all goes as planned, officials say construction will take place in 2015, and the building will be ready by 2016.

As the Times-Mail previously reported, the city will see an investment of some $19 million - about $11 million in state and federal grants and about $8 million from various other sources - under the state's Stellar Community program to renovate and revitalize the downtown area.

The Stone Gate Arts and Education Culturual Center is just one of a few Stellar Communities projects.

The old Carriage House Furniture building at 16th and K Streets, and other adjoining properties, will be transformed the Stonecutters Place Senior Apartments for those 62 and older.

Other projects include the Milwaukee Depot, Limestone Trails, gateways and murals, streetscape improvements, courthouse lawn, downtown business incubator and facade innovations.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Click here to go back to previous page