Community Arts Center Past Updates:

Older News

DFA has exciting news to report: We are in the process of working with the current property owner, Westcott Homes, to obtain a space for the barn’s permanent home! This has been the vision for over a decade and it is finally coming into place. DFA has developed a good working relationship with Westcott, and we’re very optimistic about moving forward.

We ask for your patience as DFA works through details about the barn’s permanent home with Westcott. We will be providing updates here on our website and our Facebook page as information becomes available. Right now our team is working hard to finalize the details and we look forward to sharing that information as the details get nailed down. Currently, the fine details are a work in progress.

In parallel, DFA is starting to prepare the barn for its new future. Volunteers are being asked to help with upcoming cleaning at the barn to make room for the next steps that are needed to help the barn make it through the coming winter.

The following is information about the Thayer Barn, the Duvall Foundation for the Arts’ role in the project, and the current update on the status of the project. Hopefully this communication will serve to help community members understand the important issues surrounding this project.

2013

Late in 2013, rumors started about Newhall-Jones possibly selling the 34 acres of property, which includes the Thayer Barn, to a new developer, Westcott Homes.
Duvall Foundation of the Arts (DFA) started talking with the city about how this could revitalize the project of renovating the Barn and creating a Community Art Center. At the same time Kristin and Bill Connors became interested in saving the barn as an historic building, and created much public awareness.
The City of Duvall, Westcott Homes, DFA, and the Connors all had various meetings concerning the future of the Barn.

2014 – January, February

In January 2014, Westcott Homes officially purchased the land, which included the Thayer Barn.
In January, both DFA and the Connors met with Westcott Homes.
The Thayer Barn was nominated by the Connors to the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation for its 2014 Most Endangered Properties list.

2014 – March, April

Both DFA and the Connors spoke at the Duvall City Council’s Council of the Whole (COW) regarding plans for saving the barn.
After meeting with the developer, barn moving company, and barn restoration company, Lin McBride, President of DFA, presented a project outline to the Duvall City Council.
Westcott Homes invited all interested parties to meet at their office in Kirkland – in attendance were representatives of the City of Duvall, DFA, the Connors and one independent contractor.
The Connors and DFA met with Chris Moore, Executive Director of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, to discuss how to move forward with Westcott Homes for saving the Barn.

2014 – May

Lin McBride attended the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation annual meeting/conference in Wenatchee, WA, where the Trust unveiled their 2014 list of Endangered Properties. Duvall’s Thayer Barn was one of five properties on that list. All five properties were highlighted in a video presentation that told the history and circumstances of each property (www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOKBm3FTJnw). The video of the Thayer Barn included interviews with both Kristin Connors and Lin McBride.
Westcott Homes stated their deadlines for proposals regarding the Thayer Barn would be May 9^th.
On May 8^th, DFA delivered a proposal to Westcott Homes, outlining steps to preserve the Barn. This proposal outlined the plans for cleaning up and stabilizing the Barn in place during the summer/fall of 2014; and 2015, after the initial dirt work had been done and the space for the Barn was prepared, it would be moved to that space, and placed on its foundation; and in 2016 the roof and exterior would be completed.
DFA presented a financial plan to Westcott Homes and is currently pursuing funding opportunities.

2014 – June, July

As requested by DFA in its proposal, Westcott Homes drafted a Temporary Easement Agreement allowing DFA to clean up and stabilized the Barn in place. The agreement was signed by both parties on June 26^th.
On July 9^th the City of Duvall hosted a meeting with Westcott Homes and DFA, to answer questions and hold discussions in preparation for agreements between the three parties.
DFA has applied for a grant from the Rotary Club of Duvall, which was accepted. Other fundraising is in process.

Archived Community Arts Updates