A pornographic art gallery in the idyllic mountain town of Allenspark may no longer be in the works.
A group of residents who hated the idea that Jeff and Vicky Mead wanted to establish an X-rated business in the former Eastin Gallery is buying the building to turn it into a community center.
The Allenspark Community Cultures Council said Saturday it had signed a purchase agreement for the Meads’ 4,050-square-foot building just off Peak to Peak Highway in Boulder County.
The group hopes the building will include art studios, community classrooms, a visitor center and museum, a food co-op and a center for lectures, musical events and discussion groups.
That’s a far different offering than what the Meads had planned for the building — everything from erotic art to edible underwear and panties with slits in the middle.
“Of course, if the deal falls through, all that may still happen,” Jeff Mead said Sunday.
He and his wife originally wanted to run their ATV business out of the former gallery they bought in 2007 for $428,000.
But Boulder County stopped them, saying the ATVs were not an approved use in the Allenspark area. A pornographic gallery was, however, which prompted the couple to recently advertise that the “Patterson XXX Porn Gallery” was nearly ready to open.
Many in Allenspark say the Meads were naming the gallery for Margaret Patterson, who tried to derail the porn idea. Patterson is also the chairwoman for the community cultures council.
Patterson couldn’t be reached for comment Sunday. But the group said Saturday it planned to cover capital expenses for the center through a fundraising program designed to solicit contributions and low- or no-interest loans from individuals, grant-making organizations, corporations and government agencies.
In the first month, fundraising efforts have brought in more than $61,000 from individuals and a $1,000 grant from the Tourism and Recreation Program of Boulder County.
Jeff Mead said he wanted to unload the building because he is more interested in starting a new business converting gasoline vehicles to run on natural gas.
But if the deal falls through, he’ll gladly let a national company set up a porn establishment in the building.
“Hey, if the local government is so stupid to choose a porn gallery over a nice family business,” Mead said, “then so be it.”
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
