Drawings show Haddonfield's proposed 'Boxwood Arts' cultural center

An historic Haddon Avenue home would be transformed into a gallery and a new structure containing a 365-seat theater and 4,000 square foot ballroom would be built to create a proposed cultural complex called "Boxwood Arts" in the heart of Haddonfield.

Architectural renderings released Thursday "gave me a wonderful sense of joy," says David Stavetski, who heads the executive committee of a grassroots group that has been working on the proposal for a year.

The effort has been boosted by a substantial gift from a private citizen; Stavetski declines to identify the amount, or the donor. "It will cover the preliminary costs and the architectural costs...with some money available for construction and an endowment," he says.

The theater will become the new home of Haddonfield Plays & Players,  a community theater group of which Stavetski is president. The gallery space in the late 18th-century house known as Boxwood Hall will be operated by the borough's Markeim Arts Center; discussions with other arts organizations as potential partners or tenants are continuing.

A wooded area at the rear of the property - beloved by preservationists for its connections to the noted naturalist Samuel Nicholson Rhoads - would be conserved, according to a statement released along with the renderings  by Boxwood Arts.

The material is being made public "so that we can show it to people and generate excitement," as well as continue to raise funds for the project, Stavetski says.

"The dream can happen," he adds. "We can create a beautiful facility on that site that protects the natural beauty and provides premiere venues."

Says Haddonfield Mayor Jeff Kasko,  "I'm happy they are coming up with a use  [for the borough-owned property] that could be good for the community.

"I look forward to seeing their plans."