by David Chapman
Staff Writer
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens will have some help in its efforts to restore the adjacent Woman’s Club of Jacksonville building, after Bank of America donated $1 million to the restoration effort during a groundbreaking ceremony Monday.
The building, to be renamed the Edward W. Lane Jr. Building upon completion, will serve as an expansion to The Cummer, located on Riverside Avenue, and will be available for weddings, receptions, dances, lectures, corporate meetings and other revenue-generating events for the museum.
“It is an important tribute to Mrs. (Ninah) Cummer and to people that believe in the characteristic architectual heritage of the Riverside district,” said Cummer Director Maarten van de Guchte. “It’s part of our mission as an art museum in taking care of artwork, taking care of our historic gardens and preserving this characteristic building that has such an important place in the memories of of many, many Jacksonville residents.”
Restoration and beautification is set to begin today on the exterior of the building, with interior work to follow. The renovations should be complete in mid-2009, according to van de Guchte.
Even with completion more than a year away, inquiries are already starting to come on a daily basis about availability of the riverfront venue to hosts weddings, said van de Guchte.
“Yes, quite a few,” said van de Guchte. “When it is complete, it is going to be beautiful.”
The Cummer purchased the building, located next to the museum on the corner of Riverside Avenue and Post Street, in 2005 for $1.3 million.
Bank of America’s contribution, which is part of the organization’s 10-year-goal of donating more than $1.5 billion to communities nationwide, will go a long way in the renovation project, said van de Guchte.
“The reunion of these community landmarks is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen and preserve Jacksonville’s history,” said Susan Walker, Florida president of Bank of America. “It makes good business sense to support organizations that help preserve our history.”
Walker reminisced during her speech about the pleasure she took in chaperoning her children’s field trips to the museum and her personal affinity for The Cummer.
“This is absolutely one of the most fun things I get to do,” said Walker before presenting the check to van de Guchte and chair of Cummer’s building and grounds committee, Frank Watson. “This is a big check for a big event.”
The big events are what Watson and other Cummer Museum officials are anticipating the most.
“It will be very exciting,” said Watson, “turning this property into a place where we can have musical concerts, where we can have dances, a place to have wedding anniversaries, weddings, birthday parties and opening nights.”
The renovated building will be more than just a part of the Cummer in name — it will also be physically connected, too. The stage on the north side of the building will be relocated to the south side, with a new connection to the Cummer in its place.
Though prices have not been set for any type of event in the building (they will be at some point closer to completion), the revenue that will be generated from such events is projected to reach around $100,000 after the first year and $400,000 after the five-year mark, said van de Guchte, who based the figures on a business plan created in conjunction with University of North Florida professors.
“In this day and age, where not-for-profits have to diversify their income streams,” said van de Guchte, “this building will be used to bolster our bottom line and generate additional revenue.”