The Atascadero Printery Foundation is asking for the community's help in collecting funds to restore what used to be the printery building.
The building is located at 6351 Olmeda Ave in Atascadero.
It was abandoned and severely damaged after the 2003 San Simone earthquake and has since been subject to regular vandalism.
As of Sunday afternoon, the non-profit organization has collected $250,000 in donations. Those funds have helped jump start some of the renovations.
“We’re starting to get some shoring in place to make the building a little more safe,” said Karen McNamara, the foundation's President.
According to the non-profit, around eight million dollars total is needed to complete the renovation and half of those funds will be raised by the Atascadero Performing Arts Center.
The building is set to serve the community in a multitude of ways -- as a performing arts center, a working print museum, a theater space for live productions and as an event and conference space.
Those who are unable to donate money can also help bring the project to life by volunteering. Volunteers help paint, sweep, and organize the building.
“If there’s somebody out there that has the funds and can make it happen faster, that would be great. Otherwise, we are going to do it in stages and raise the funds slower and use a lot more volunteer time,” said Gregg Ravatt, a volunteer architect on the project.
The foundation says they hope to be able to eventually pay the engineers, architects, and even some interns from Cal Poly who have been working for free over the past few months.
If you're interested in bidding for the right to have your name acknowledged as a donor on a plaque in the building, click here to reach the auction.
If you want to learn more about the foundation, its mission or where to donate or volunteer, click here.
