Proposed performing arts center receives second gift

Published 1:31 am Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Thanks to a gift of $1.425 million from Port Angeles resident, Dorothy Field, the Peninsula College Foundation has quickly acquired a location for the performing arts center envisioned by Donna Morris in her will. Using the donation from Field, the foundation was able to purchase approximately 70,000 square feet of undeveloped real estate at the northwest corner of Front and Oak streets on the Port Angeles waterfront.

The sale was privately negotiated with owners Mr. and Mrs. Tod E. McClaskey Jr. of Vancouver, resulting in what is known as a “bargain sale,” with a purchase price that was $350,000 less than the appraised value of $1.76 million, allowing the McClaskeys to treat the difference as a charitable donation.

Ownership of the property ultimately will be transferred from the foundation to a newly created nonprofit organization as soon as tax-exempt status has been granted by the IRS.

The next step in the project is the selection of an architectural firm to advise and consult regarding feasibility and design. Requests for proposals to selected firms chosen by the PAC Committee went out July 1.