What Will Montalvo Do With $1 Million?

LOS GATOS, CA — What does one do with $1 million?

That's the question the Montalvo Arts Center is asking itself, but there's no shortage of answers.

The arts haven situated between Los Gatos and Saratoga received the cool million challenge grant to establish a capital improvement fund for renovating the historic villa and grounds from Sally Lucas, a lifetime trustee of Montalvo. The "challenge" part means the $1 million will need to be matched, thus totaling $2 million for the efforts.

"I’m deeply grateful to Sally for her longstanding, inspiring philanthropic leadership. Montalvo’s 107-year-old Italianate architecture has significant needs, and this gift will go a long way in restoring a prized public asset to its original splendor," Executive Director Angela McConnell said.

McConnell told Patch the arts center faces a 30-year maintenance plan with a long list of deferred maintenance issues. Top priorities range from an improved heating, ventilation, air conditioning system and lighting upgrades to bathroom revamps and painting. Then, there's the 107-year-old elevator that's precariously needing to be mended.

"Our focus will be safety first," McConnell said.

With all renovations listed, it will take $11 million to fix everything on the wish list of getting the beloved community center up to par.

"Our goal is for the entire community to come to Montalvo to be inspired," she said.

The arts center tucked in the West Hills on Montalvo Center features the arts and entertainment in many forms such as the immensely popular Bruce Munro lights exhibit from last year.