Rendering ‘Sculpting the Future’ of the Cain Center. Design by Nicole Perri Architecture
March 11. Groundbreaking for the Cain Center’s new ceramics center will take place Thursday, March 13 at the site on Catawba and Church where three historic houses are located.
Two of the houses will be renovated, one for additional Cain Center offices and one for the popular ceramics studio. The third, on the corner and in poor condition, was torn down to make way for open space that will function as an eastern gateway to downtown.
Background
The $4.7 million project is a key component of redevelopment in downtown Cornelius—and an expansion for the two-year-old Cain Center.
Private fundraising has already raised more than $1.5 million; a public fundraising effort will get under way at groundbreaking. The new and bigger facility will allow the Cain Center to offer more classes.
The Cain Center itself is a $40 million community asset in the center of downtown.
Quotable
Justin Dionne, the Cain Center’s executive director. / Sean Meyers Photography
“When we opened Cain Center, there were two things that we just couldn’t do. Those two things are ceramics and history,” said Justin Dionne, executive director of the Cain Center. “Those were two things we couldn’t find the right way to work into this (the Cain Center) building. For us, this is a great opportunity to close those loops. We owe it to the community and to our supporters.”
The Cornelius Arts Center, located in the Oak Street Mill since 2009, is operating there on a month-to-month basis. The mill complex will be redeveloped.
Another project
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for a brand-new interactive musical play space at the Cain Center for the Arts in Cornelius will take place at 4:30 pm tomorrow. The vibrant addition to the community blends music and movement, offering children of all abilities an engaging way to explore sound through play.
The innovative play space was made possible by Make An Impact Foundation, Miracle Recreation, the Lake Norman Rotary Club, and the Town of Cornelius.
Interactive musical play space at the Cain Center for the Arts
Not much left of Cornelius’ history to tear down and erase!
So hard to witness! I’m so blessed to have wonderful memories of our sweet little town! Someday, when the older generation is gone, there will be nothing left of what we knew as the best little town in Mecklenburg County.
Growth hasn’t been a good thing!!
Posted by Blessed by days gone by! | March 11, 2025, 9:45 pmThey have literally preserved both the historical houses and are only renovating the interiors. This NIMBY attitude, without even paying attention to details, is very disheartening to see in articles about historical preservation success stories like this.
Do you miss the days when there was no lake?
Posted by Anon | March 12, 2025, 9:46 pmExcited to see the new location come underway, the current building has already been fantastic for the community impact it has done.
Posted by Harrison Drechsler | March 12, 2025, 9:16 am