PVA is pleased to announce that we own the
Porter Building at 280 Main Street!

Pajaro Valley Arts is pleased to announce that we own the Porter Building at 280 Main Street!

At the June 28 City Council meeting, Council members approved the Disposition and Development Agreement to purchase the historic Porter Building in Downtown Watsonville for a fair market value cash offer at the appraised price of $1,150,000. We closed escrow on 8/1/22, and were given the keys on Monday afternoon.

PVA plans to host our first pre-renovation pop-up exhibit in the Porter Building at the Wine, Beer, and Art Walk on August 20. To purchase tickets go to Eventbrite.com.

The building will require extensive renovation prior to moving into the new space.  PVA will initiate a building campaign to cover the renovation costs; complete a community input process; have architectural plans completed; and apply for development and building permits prior to starting work on the building. PVA will continue operations at 37 Sudden Street until the Porter Building is renovated and anticipate moving into their new home in 2025.

PVA’s vision for expansion into this space is to provide an inclusive, safe, and professional space where the community can create and share their creativity, culture, and history.

The purchase was made possible through the $1,000,000 donation from an “angel” donor whose interest is in providing workshops for seniors and youth, combined with a grant in the amount of $540,000 Administered by Community Vision Capital & Consulting, with support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The grant to purchase the Porter Building was awarded to further expand PVA’s ability to provide space and programming in both visual and performing arts.

The purchase process of the Porter Building started in 2020, right before the outbreak of the pandemic. PVA recognizes the City’s heroic efforts during this time, and the need to prioritize the health of our community over the sale of the property.

The PVA Acquisition Team brought their individual skills to the table: Trina Coffman-Gomez, finance, real estate, escrow; Bruce Nicholson, architecture, construction, and property development; Valéria Miranda, business, arts programming, and management experience; and Judy Stabile, PVA programming and grant writing.

The acquisition team worked with the City Management team of Tamara Vides and Raunel Zavala, along with both legal teams to realize the sale of the property. We recognize and thank the City for their patience in guiding us through this process.

Pajaro Valley Arts
August 3, 2022