Update: Printery building pulled from public auction
The Atascadero Printery Building was built in 1915. Photo by Heather Young.
Postponing auction will give non-profit time to develop a strategy to save the historic building
Update posted May 17, 8:15 a.m.
–County Auditor Controller Treasurer Tax Collector Jim Erb announced today that the Atascadero Printery building has been pulled from this years public auction of tax-defaulted properties, which is scheduled to begin Saturday.
Built in 1915, the Atascadero Printery is an historic building, but was heavily damaged in the 2003 San Simeon earthquake.
“A non-profit group has formed, Atascadero Printery Foundation, and has expressed interest in restoring the building for public use,” Erb explained. “Postponing the auction will give this group time to raise money and determine their strategy. I felt it was in the best interest of the county and citizens of Atascadero to pull the property from auction.”
Califontia revenue and taxation code requires the county tax collector to offer tax-defaulted properties for sale within four years of the time the property becomes subject to sale for non-payment of taxes. The property becomes subject to sale five years after taxes are defaulted. Since the Atascadero Printery became tax-defaulted in July 2008, it was subject to sale in July 2013. Because it is still within the four-year period ending July 2017, it is not required to be offered this year. However, unless some other action occurs, the property must be offered next year, according to Erb.
Original story posted May 12
-By Jackie Iddings
Foundation has also met with Fifth District Supervisor Arnold
–The Atascadero Printery Foundation Board of Directors met with Fifth District Supervisor Debbie Arnold and with San Luis Obispo County Tax Collector’s office about suspending the tax auction and selling the historic printery to the foundation. The announcement was made during Tuesday evening’s community information meeting at the Atascadero Library. The meeting was held to inform the community about the current status of saving the printery, to discuss plans for the printery to become a major community resource, and to enlist volunteers.
The tax auction is scheduled for Saturday, May 14. “Debbie Arnold is very supportive,” said Board President Karen McNamara. “The tax assessor has until 5:30 Friday afternoon to decide to stop the auction. All we can say at this point is that the meeting with the tax assessor’s office have been positive but we don’t have an answer yet.” McNamara also said that if the foundation is able to place a bid of $255,000 at the auction, they would have 90 days to come up with that amount.
Ideas for community uses for printery that were discussed at the meeting include a performing arts theater and practice rooms, a center for local arts, dining and meeting spaces, space for outdoor events, and office rentals to local nonprofits. In the presentation, Board Member Jeff Pedigo outlined the first three steps to the foundation acquiring and securing the building:
- Halt the May 14 tax auction
- Retain ownership
- Secure the building to protect if from further damage
The printery was damaged in the 2003 San Simeon Earthquake. That damage and vandalism have caused the building to fall into severe disrepair. The Atascadero Printery was the first civic building in the city and at one point housed the largest photogravure printing press west of the Mississippi. Those attending Tuesday’s meeting also learned from Pedigo’s presentation that the printery was the original home of the Atascadero News, and the Illustrated Review. For a time the printery also produced sections of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Los Angeles Times, and Sunset Magazine. The printery became the property of Kelly Gearhart and ended up in tax default after Gearhart was convicted of fraud and money laundering.
Broken windows on the Printery need to be boarded up to help secure the building and prevent more vandalism. Photo courtesy of the Atascadero Printery Foundation Facebook photo album.
Pedigo said that once the building is acquired, the preservation and renovations could cost up to $10 million. Another board member, architect Gregg Ravatt, said he has been working with civil engineers and surveyors who have volunteered their time to help research the building and historical records and assess the structure of the building.
McNamara said community support for the county to suspend Saturday’s auction can be sent to Arnold at [email protected] or calling (805) 781-4339 or faxing (805) 781-1350.
The foundation is looking for volunteers. Anyone with expertise in law, restoration, history, fund-raising, the arts, general contracting, architecture, and any number of other skills is welcome. To volunteer contact the foundation at [email protected]. More information is also available on the foundation’s website and on Facebook. The foundation’s Facebook page is drawing interest from people around the world who research and follow historic buildings.
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