Charlotte County anticipates months-long process to reopen Cultural Center

While residents have been submitting input as to what services are needed at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County, Commissioner Joe Tiseo warned it would take longer than a few months to reopen the social hub that served the county for six decades before closing its doors in 2021.  

Toward the end of Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting, Tiseo was addressing resident Joan Fischer’s plea to have the center at 2280 Aaron St. in Port Charlotte reopened as soon as possible and to declare it a historical site. 

The pandemic caused a dramatic drop in revenue and activities at the center. Prior to its closing, the center’s board asked the county for $300,000 to continue running it, but the county declined. 

Last year, Hurricane Ian caused extensive damage to the Cultural Center campus. While the Port Charlotte Library remains at the campus, the rest of the complex, including the theater, which was heavily damaged, has remained empty since the storm. 

County Project Manager Travis Perdue testified, shortly after Hurricane Ian, that most parts of the building weren’t safe for occupancy, which led commissioners to lay the groundwork for having the Cultural Center redesigned and rebuilt. 

However, on Tuesday, Fischer urged the board to “keep the AC running and clean it up.” 

Tiseo said it’s not that simple. Referring to Fischer’s plea to open the doors at the beginning of the year, he said, “We are not there.” 

The county must analyze data to figure out what repairs and renovations must be made, and the county has yet to identify a funding source.  

Fischer also said the center should remain a one-story facility. Later in the meeting, Commissioner Ken Doherty said that may not be possible given recent hurricanes and flooding in the county. 

A two-story structure might have to be built “because of stormwater requirements,” he said. “Because of real estate limitations we may have to go vertical.” 

Doherty said three public input sessions, which run through Thursday, will help determine what the Cultural Center will become. 

Perdue reported 2,200 responses to the county’s survey on its website, which ended in mid-October. It provided a checklist of different activities and services the new center should provide, as well as offering space for additional comments and suggestions. 

Commissioner Chris Constance asked why the portal wasn’t kept open. “It’s not hurting anything to keep it open,” he said. 

Tiseo agreed the survey should be reopened to garner more consensus from the public. 

Commissioner Stephen Deutsch said the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce will have survey forms available during the organization’s breakfast meeting Wednesday.  

After Tuesday’s public input meeting at the Punta Gorda Charlotte Library, two more will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Family Services Center, 21500 Gibralter Drive, in Port Charlotte, and from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Tringali Community Center, 3460 North Access Road, in Englewood.