News of a joint art-education project between Calhoun Community College and Athens State University locating in downtown Decatur has some Athens downtown rejuvenation proponents eyeing such a facility for this city.

If the project comes to fruition, the art education departments of both Athens State and Calhoun would be located in the old Robinson Furniture building on Second Avenue in Decatur, across from the Princess Theatre.

ASU President Dr. Robert Glenn said Thursday he has not given up on his stated intention of establishing a university “presence” on the Athens square, but the offer of a large, multi-story building in Decatur at little cost to the two local schools was too good of an offer not to consider.

“We certainly wouldn’t be opposed to multiple art centers,” Glenn said. “But we need to remember that this is not the first time Athens State has gone outside Limestone County. We have the Redstone Arsenal classes, Hanceville, Rainsville and Phil Campbell. In this particular case, Decatur’s approach early on was to put the offer of a 40,000-square-foot building on the table. They said they could renovate the building and rent it to us or give it to us and we would do the renovations.”

Glenn said it was his “fiduciary responsibility to give it serious consideration.”

He said both schools have expressed desire for fine arts departments, and having an adequate facility could allow for expansion.

“We could start with a fine arts department and build to drama and possibly even to film,” Glenn said.

The Alabama Senate approved the Alabama Film Incentive Bill on Tuesday, which allows incentives to lure movie production companies to the state. The bill goes to Gov. Bob Riley for signature. The Alabama Film Office became a division of the Alabama Tourism Department on Jan. 2.

Glenn said he was not “abandoning Athens.”

“We are actively pursuing a number of buildings on or about the square,” Glenn said. “I would hate people to be angry with Athens State because Decatur took this initiative.”

Glenn said he has discussed with faculty and school officials possibly locating some administrative offices, a bookstore or “one or more” departments downtown.

“That would hinge on what building we could secure,” he said.

Glenn said establishing a fine arts department in Decatur is a good recruitment tool for Athens State.

“One of the things we have to bear in mind is that if we put together such a program we are in competition to draw people from all over the state or from out of state. We are not competitive with our present department on campus,” he said. “This is a real opportunity to expand.”

Tricia Black, who is chairman of the downtown revitalization program, Spirit of Athens, and who was formerly an organizer of Art on the Square, said Athens would like to have the drawing card of a fine arts center, which is sure to benefit downtown Decatur.