Marketing Study Will Delay Cultural Center

Plans for the Westminster Community Cultural Center, on the drawing boards for about 20 years, received another delay this week.

The City Council was to have voted on whether to proceed with updated plans from the architects, GKK Inc. of Irvine, but delayed action until the completion of a Chapman University marketing and economic analysis.

Council members said they were pleased with the most recent, $7.6-million design for the center, which includes a 418-seat theater and a banquet hall that can seat up to 500 people.

But the council determined that it needed more information on how much city subsidy would be required before the center becomes self-sufficient.

The city has raised about $8 million for the center, which would be built on city-owned property at 15th and Monroe streets. The Chapman economic and marketing study will be conducted by a student group this spring.