In anticipation of finalizing an agreement for the long-awaited downtown redevelopment, Town of Herndon officials are turning their attention to the arts organizations that will be at least temporarily displaced by the project.
Interim town manager Christopher Martino told the Herndon Town Council at a work session yesterday (Oct. 15) the town is on track to complete a final comprehensive agreement with developer Comstock by an imposed Dec. 10 deadline after years of delay.
Most recently, Comstock indicated it plans to start the redevelopment next April, transforming five acres of land bounded by Elden, Station and Center streets with 273 apartments, roughly 17,000 square feet of retail, an arts center, and a 726-space parking garage.
At yesterday’s work session, council members discussed the need to ask NextStop Theatre Company and Arts Herndon to vacate the ArtsSpace building at 750 Center Street within 90 days of the town completing its final agreement with Comstock.
Arts Herndon leases roughly 3,200 square feet of space in the building for offices, a bookstore and a programming area. NextStop uses 2,800 square feet entirely for storage.
Ownership of the building has already been transferred to Comstock as part of the redevelopment project, though the town is licensing the property until construction commences.
The building will be demolished as part of the redevelopment, which will include a 4,265-square-foot arts center — a significant downsizing from the 16,265-square-foot facility originally promised.
Councilmember Donielle Scherff said it’s important to set public expectations about the future of the arts in Herndon.
“I don’t want the community to think we’re going to close down one space, relocate everyone and then put them back in when the Comstock development is done, because that is not the plan,” she said.
According to a town staff memo, the anticipated final agreement for the downtown redevelopment will require Comstock to close on project financing by March 31 and initiate construction by April 30.
While staff recommended setting a 90-day deadline for Arts Herndon and NextStop to leave the ArtSpace building, the town council didn’t settle on a definite path forward yet. Another option would be to let the organizations stay on a month-to-month basis with regular reminders that the property needs to be vacated before construction starts on April 30.
During construction, Arts Herndon will relocate to 397 Herndon Parkway. The town is committing $343,000 to outfit the 2,000-square-foot space as a temporary location.
Councilmember Cesar del Aguila noted that the financial contribution emphasizes the current council’s commitment to the arts.
“Let’s be real, $340K is a lot of money to a community,” del Aguila said.
