Spirit Square

In November 1974, Ferebee, Walters, and Associates said the cost of converting the old church into an arts center would be $1 million.

In April 1975, a 100-member cultural arts committee asked Mecklenburg County commissioners to buy the buildings, which consultant Ralph Burgard said would improve the area.

A six-month study by Spirit Square Development Group, chaired by Alex McMillan, resulted in a plan to spend $300,000 to renovate the education building on Seventh Street, and $2.5 million on the sanctuary.

[2] As Spirit Square prepared to celebrate its 10th anniversary, a fund-raising campaign began in May 1986 for the rest of the $5.5 million expected cost.

[3] A $6.5 million renovation and 7,300-square-foot addition completed in 1990 gave the arts center the building that had been desired since it began, and a new entrance at 345 North College Street.

Ceiling heights and floor materials changed in the different buildings, making renovation challenging, and $400,000 had to be spent to remove asbestos after an estimate of only $75,000, due to incorrect plans.

In December of that year, it was announced that Spirit Square Center for Arts and Education would be taken over by the Blumenthal organization June 30, 1997.

By this time, Opera Carolina, Northwest School of the Arts and The Light Factory were using space and their futures were uncertain.

[7] The 15-member Spirit Square Community Task Force began working to find a way to maximize the site's potential and still keep the historic character.