A press release went out this morning officially announcing that Wonderland would be abandoning plans to build an artist/creative space inside the former Wonder Bread building in Italian Village and are in the process of finding a new home. The high cost of the Wonder Bread building was cited as the main reason to seek a new location.
The full press release can be read below:
Wonderland Columbus to secure new facility
In the continuing efforts to create a physical home for Wonderland Columbus, to better fulfill its mission to offer Columbus new cultural, educational and collaborative opportunities, board and staff of the emerging non-profit are currently investigating a variety of locations around Columbus.
Initial plans to locate the project within the former Wonder Bread factory in the Short North ultimately proved unfeasible. Through a process involving input from independent property appraisers and several developers consulting with Wonderland, including a review of comparable properties in and around Downtown, it was determined that the final asking price for the building was not fiscally defensible for a tax-exempt organization seeking public support.
According to executive director Adam Brouillette, this development will do nothing to slow the projectʼs momentum and may help expedite Wonderlandʼs application for 501c3 non-profit status with the IRS.
The search for a new physical home for Wonderland Columbus has begun with the help of a committee of trusted advisors who have volunteered their time to the task. So far, several locations with great potential have been identified. The architecture firm of BBCO Design will remain with the project and is also assisting with the search effort.
“The community response to this project has been overwhelmingly positive,” Brouillette said. “Iʼm encouraged by the continued support Wonderland is getting in its efforts to find a new home. With the help of our community supporters, weʼll be able to create an even better asset than what we had planned before.”
Representatives from Wonderland will be available to the public for questions and feedback at a variety of upcoming programs on the Wonderland calendar, starting with the creative networking event Wunderblender August 2 at The Jury Room. Progress updates will also be shared at www.wonderlandcolumbus.com.