$10 million community arts center proposed for south St. Pete church site
/A new community arts center has been proposed for a church property in south St. Pete | Bill Edwards Foundation
A 3.6-acre church campus in south St. Pete could soon become a new hub for youth arts education, as the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts looks to acquire and repurpose the property into a community arts center.
The foundation has launched a $10 million capital campaign to purchase the site at 5995 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South and convert it into the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts Community Arts Center.
The 26,155-square-foot property is currently home to Lakewood United Methodist Church and Alegria Montessori School.
Built in 1958, the campus includes a 396-seat sanctuary, a smaller chapel, a two-story educational building with a fenced-in playground and covered outdoor play area, as well as a fellowship hall, kitchen, and office space.
The center would build on the foundation’s existing Class Acts program, which currently welcomes more than 25,000 students annually to the Mahaffey Theater for live performances tied to what they’re learning in school | Bill edwards Foundation
Listed for $3.45 million by Foundry Commercial, the site has been on the market since late 2025.
If acquired, the property would become the foundation’s first permanent home and a year-round base for expanded programming.
Plans call for converting existing classrooms into dance studios, music rooms, media labs, and creative learning spaces, along with outdoor areas for performances, festivals, and community events.
The center would build on the foundation’s existing Class Acts program, which currently welcomes more than 25,000 students annually to the Mahaffey Theater for live performances tied to what they’re learning in school.
Plans call for converting existing classrooms into dance studios, music rooms, media labs, and creative learning spaces | Bill Edwards Foundation
The new facility would allow those offerings to extend beyond field trips into daily programming, including after-school care with homework support, arts enrichment programs, summer camps, and mentorship opportunities for students interested in creative careers.
“Our youth are our future leaders, and the arts help build the confidence and skills they need to succeed,” said Bill Edwards, founder of the foundation. “Our vision is to create a permanent Community Arts Center where our programs and our impact can grow.”
The initiative comes as Edwards and his organization, Big3 Entertainment Group, prepare to step away from managing the Mahaffey Theater, with that transition set to take effect in early April.
The Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts will continue operating its Class Acts programming at the venue while expanding its broader footprint across the region.
The community arts center would also repurpose an existing playground | Bill Edwards Foundation
Foundation leaders say the proposed campus is designed to create a pipeline from early exposure to the arts through potential professional opportunities, while also serving as a gathering space for families and the surrounding community.
“We're ready for the next act in our student programming,” Katrina Young, Vice President of Arts Education and Entertainment for Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts, said in the announcement. “This center will create a safe space where young people can discover their talents and imagine what they can become.”
The project is expected to be implemented in phases following acquisition, with fundraising efforts now underway through the “10 for Tomorrow” campaign.
More details and information on the new arts center will be presented at a community event on Friday, March 27th, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Mahaffey Theater.
The community arts center would include outdoor areas for performances, festivals, and community events | Bill Edwards Foundation
