ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Printery Foundation is Roaring into 2020 with some incredible progress in the rehabilitation of  Atascadero’s first Civic building. A major repair that was projected to cost upward of a quarter million dollars has now been  proposed by a local contractor to cost under $15,000. This is great news for the entire project, lowering the overall cost considerably. The Foundation Board will vote on accepting this proposal at their meeting this Thursday.

 The Printery was constructed in 1915 and used continually until the 2003 San Simeon earthquake hit, leaving the corners of the upper story along West Mall badly damaged. Cracks running the entire length of the story are widening with every small seismic event as brick debris settles further down, acting as a wedge. Visible from even the street, the damage has been featured in news articles and videos about the demise of the building for many years. A structural engineer confirmed the Foundation’s conclusion that the exterior corners were actually twisting off the building. After shoring the roof structure with the help of volunteers, brick masons were called in to evaluate the repairs. Then came the amazing news that the repair is well within reach of being accomplished, preventing the fall of the corners and further damage to the building.

The Printery Foundation is working hard to bring the historic structure back to use for the entire community  as a venue featuring the arts, entertainment, history and community service. Help is needed to fund this major repair and the structural engineering report needed to make the building usable once again. No donation is too large or small! Every donation makes a big difference as it goes directly to materials or professional reports needed to complete the rehabilitation.  

Donations can be made to the Atascadero Printery Foundation by mail: 6351 Olmeda Avenue, Atascadero  CA.  93422, Or come by the monthly workday – Feb. 16 from  10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and see the need up-close. The board meeting is also open to the public, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce. Online donations and more information is available at AtascaderoPrintery.org or by calling (805) 466-1961.