La Mesa's historic Porter Hall is open once again, nearly five months after a traffic accident forced the city to close it for repairs.
Porter Hall is home to the Foothills Art Association, which has been without a venue since Dec. 22, when two sport utility vehicles collided on University Avenue, sending one crashing into the building's facade.
The repairs cost $12,000 and took longer than expected because of the building's historical significance. New windows were ordered, and a wall and electrical wiring were fixed, said Yvonne Garrett, the city's director of community services.
Porter Hall was built in 1928, and last year the City Council voted to give it a historic designation. Porter Hall belonged to the Porter family, which settled in the area in the early 1900s. The building is shaped like an octagon, an homage to the architecture of China, according to the La Mesa Historical Society.
Foothills had moved into the building three months before the accident, and the city had spent about $150,000 on building renovations.
Hazel Ross, president of Foothills, said the art organization is one of only a few with its own gallery.
A monthly art show for members began yesterday and the annual juried show, traditionally held in April, was pushed to June, Ross said. Porter Hall is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Liz Neely: (619) 593-4961; liz.neely@uniontrib.com
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