SAVE THE LOFT

OHCA COMMUNITY and Supporters: We need your HELP!

2021 has started off with a mix of optimism and challenges. We are hopeful in time we can gather together at the center in person to celebrate, create, and communicate. However, after a successful year despite the pandemic and closure, one of our biggest challenges to date presented itself.

A sinkhole suddenly appeared at the base of the south wall of the lower loft, endangering our treasured building for members making art and coming together. This hole puts the foundation of the Loft building in extreme danger and could render the building permanently unusable for classes, rental income for artists, meetings, summer camp for kids and for our directors. The sinkhole was promptly cordoned off by our directors, and emergency funds were released by the OHCA Board. With the help of Rick Block and Potter Wickware, contractors were engaged to stabilize the soil underneath the loft. This emergency fix has set the center back approximately $18,000.

The long-term solution as recommended by experienced sinkhole repair contractors and engineering experts, is that we divert the creek, currently flowing under the loft, down the driveway. This repair is estimated to be approximately $75,000-$85,000. Diverting the creek will remove the risk of further erosion and ensure the stability of the Loft foundation.

We are asking all of our members and our greater OHCA community to help us with this major unexpected expense to save the building at the heart of our center.

We need to raise $40,000 by June 1st to do this work before we offer summer camp for kids in early August. It would be wonderful to receive specific donations of increments of $25, $50, $100, $500, $1000.
Any amount will be helpful to SAVE THE LOFT.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.!

Erma Murphy – Director of Programs and Outreach