Frequently Asked Questions

In summer 2021, Cheryl Neel and Sherri VanSchaick (co-managers of the CAC) asked Pam Marshall, President of the Creative Arts Council, to lead a project to explore options to expand the footprint of the CAC. A team made up of representatives from various CAC clubs was formed to do three things: 1) survey the Arts Community – Club Presidents, members and consignors; 2) compare PebbleCreek to other Robson communities; and 3) analyze local 55+ communities with a strong arts presence—7 site visits in total.

Our volunteer architect, Paul Maurer, was given the challenge to create a plan that leveraged input from all the above. He attempted to balance the needs and desires of multiple clubs and keep safety considerations in mind. Equally important were the multiple meetings, walk throughs and discussions with the leadership team and the HOA. Those meetings and discussion led us to version 4 which is what the team recommended to the HOA. 

We have a very impressive art center. We have, however, outgrown the facility. When the CAC was built, it was originally designed for 600 members. With overall total club membership growing—nearing 1200 at last count—we are feeling the constraints of the existing space. There are long wait lists for certain classes, inability to offer the types of classes members desire, and insufficient workspace and storage for club and member needs. 

This was considered at the onset of the project. The sales office is owned by Robson. Robson will continue to use the building up until construction is completed—an estimated three years. At that time, Robson has two options: Tear down the sales center and build new homes on the two home lots or offer to sell the sales office to the PebbleCreek HOA. 

If the second option becomes available, the HOA would then evaluate the property to see if it could be repurposed for the community at a reasonable cost. 

The builder timeframe and the many unknowns made this option impractical to consider. Given the constraints we are feeling in the CAC today, we need an expanded studio space solution sooner rather than later.

Yes. A second story would have required not only an elevator—a very expensive proposition—but also two sets of stairs for fire safety compliance. The existing footings would also need to be doubled to accommodate a second story. With those costs, the second story option was quickly eliminated. 

At an estimated cost of $350-375/SF for new commercial construction, the price tag would easily exceed $5MM to build an expanded CAC with the same square footage as the proposed plan. And that doesn’t account for the cost of developing parking spaces, getting electrical service, sewer, water and internet infrastructure to the new location, or the value of the land to build the new facility. All in, a building of that scope would easily top $6MM+.

The revised plan gives each club improved studio space and many of the needs they requested. We also have an option to convert the Gallery space to one additional studio if the decision is made to move the Gallery to a more centrally located space in the future. That suggestion has already been brought up to Leadership for future consideration.

Yes. During the site visits, the team was very impressed with the woodworking facilities at several of the Sun City properties. We offer woodcarving today, but we don’t have sufficient space to house the types of machinery needed for a well-stocked woodworking studio. The team has raised this issue with leadership and the HOA. The expansion team recommends that we consider a stand-alone woodworking facility as a second phase to round out the Arts offerings at PebbleCreek and keep us competitive with other 55+ communities. This move would also give us the opportunity to introduce another club into the CAC if Woodcarving and Woodworking were combined into a new standalone building which is common in other communities.

In our initial discussions with the HOA, we discussed the precedent already set by other groups— ‘Build the Backstage’ (Theater) and the Pickleball court expansion. We collectively agreed that having the arts community coordinate a fundraising effort to support this expansion effort was important. Our target is to raise $200,000 in a multi-year fundraising effort--roughly 10% of the estimated expansion costs.

Robson assumed the financial risk when they built the Creative Art Center that we have all been enjoying, hoping that the community would be successfully built out. This project is an HOA funded expansion. The money would come largely from the Community Enhancement Fund that was approved by homeowners in 2019. 

The expansion will benefit residents by keeping resale values high, artists by having more space for learning and creating; and consignors and buyers who benefit from our beautiful Gallery. It is a small percentage that we have been asked to contribute with a very big benefit for all!

When donations are made via check or online, our fundraising accounting group will record the name of the donor, amount, date, and the fundraising activity. If the project doesn’t get approved, the plan is to return any unused monies to donors.