Maywood Fine Arts Launches Renovation of Historic Downtown Home 

At the corner of 5th Avenue and Lake Street, a familiar building in the heart of Maywood is preparing for a new chapter.

Maywood Fine Arts (MFA), the long-running nonprofit that has introduced generations of local children across the Greater West Side to dance, music, theater, and visual art, officially kicked off a major renovation of its main building on April 30. The structure, a former bank, has stood as a fixture in the village’s downtown for roughly a century, according to MFA leaders. 

The renovation, expected to begin later this month and wrap up around September, will modernize the building’s interior while preserving the historic exterior that many residents recognize. 

“This isn’t just a renovation—it’s an expansion of a home,” said Katherine Buz, MFA’s new executive director and a longtime drama instructor with the organization for more than 20 years. “It’s a physical manifestation of our commitment to the Maywood community.”

Maywood Fine Arts was founded in 1979 by Ernie and Lois Baumann, initially offering dance and tumbling classes before expanding into a wide range of arts programming. Today, the organization serves more than 500 individual students, with total enrollments nearing 800, as many young people take multiple classes. Students come from a range of West Side and west suburban communities, including Austin, Garfield Park, Maywood, and Bellwood, among others. 

The announcement of the renovation comes just months after the death of Ernie Baumann, who remained a central figure in the organization for decades.

During the kickoff event, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch reflected on growing up next door to the Baumanns and watching the program take shape.

“I was there when they started,” Welch said. “They sparked something in me I didn’t even know was there.”

While the building’s exterior—defined by its stone façade, vertical columns, and rows of large windows—will remain intact, the interior will be significantly reworked to better serve students and staff.

Rebecca Woll, MFA’s development manager, said the project will increase the number of usable classrooms from seven to about 11.

“With the extra rooms, we can serve more kids, hire more teachers, and expand what we offer,” Woll said.

Plans include reconfiguring the third floor to create a more open layout, including a new reception area, while maintaining key structural elements. The second-floor art studio will be upgraded with improved lighting and new workspaces. Music classrooms will also be modernized. 

Administrative offices will be reorganized, including a new conference room overlooking the intersection of 5th and Lake. The project will also bring a much-needed infrastructure upgrade: a new HVAC system. The building currently does not have central air conditioning.

The $4.5 million renovation is being supported by a combination of public and private funding, including roughly $3.5 million in state capital funds secured with the help of Welch and State Sen. Kimberly Lightford.

Buz said that support helped unlock additional private investment and made the project possible.

For students, the changes mean more space to learn and grow.

“Our teachers helped us believe in each other,” said MFA student Olivia Serdin during the ceremony. “This renovation isn’t just changing a building—it’s shaping our future.”

Kira Jai McGhee, another student performer, said the expanded facilities will allow young people to continue “growing, learning and reaching for bigger dreams.”

For Lois Baumann, the renovation reflects years of planning finally coming to life. MFA leaders noted that a master plan created more than a decade ago is now being fully realized—and even surpassed.

“This building will be here to serve the children of Maywood for another 100 years,” Buz said.