Old Cotton Gin May Become Home to New Performing Arts Center

There is a good chance the old cotton gin structure on Lawrenceville Street is about to have its first new tenant to occupy the turn-of-the-century building - a performing arts center.

In its monthly Policy Work Session Monday night, the Norcross City Council heard presentations by Tanya Caldwell and Anna Balkan to rent a portion of the 8,000 square-foot building, which is owned by the city, for the new home of the Lionheart Preforming Arts Center. 

"The demand from our audience for classes and more events is great and cannot be met with just the one space that Lionheart currently occupies," said Caldwell in her presentation.

"The building is fantastic space," said Caldwell afterwards. She said plans include offering acting classes, improvisation, scene study, script writing and other related classes.

"We're very excited about the prospect of being there," said Caldwell who added that initially the performing arts center would lease about 2,300 square feet of the building.

Norcross jewelry store owner Anna Balkan has stepped in to help fund the fledging school. "Anna said she would play the rent for the first year, which will buy us time to make this work," said Caldwell.

Before the Lionheart Performing Arts Center can move in, the city's downtown development authority must draw up an agreement.

"We're currently working with Lionheart Arts and Cultural Centre," said Pat Eidt, chairman of the seven-member DDA. "We feel fairly sure we'll be able to get it worked out."

Eidt said the city purchased the building about two months ago because of its strategic location. It had been on the market for a couple of years.

Caldwell says she's already making plans to start classes by Aug. 15. "We're just waiting to sign with the DDA," she said.