A decades-long effort to save a historic bluffside Encinitas building that had once been the site of Pacific View Elementary School has culminated with it reopening as a public center for the arts.
The Pacific View Arts Center officially opened Tuesday, marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony with city officials and community members.
The building had been empty since the school closed down in 2003.
The Encinitas Union School District agreed to sell the site to the city in 2014 for $10 million after a successful pressure campaign from residents to keep it from going to developers, but the renovations the building needed were delayed until 2022.
“This project was driven by the unwavering support of our community members,” tbe city said in a statement.
Ten years after the city’s purchase, Encinitas has its public arts and cultural center.
“The opening of the Pacific View Arts Center is a testament to the dedication and passion of our community,” said Encinitas mayor Tony Kranz.
“This center will serve as a beacon of creativity and inspiration for generations to come. We are thrilled to see this dream finally realized.”
The center will begin classes and workshops in performance, dance, drawing, painting, watercolor, singing, songwriting, writing, sculpture, and sewing, with more classes to be added.
The center is located at 380 West F Street in Encinitas.
More information, including detailed class information and an online registration portal, can be found here.