Construction on the new Ferriday Community Center on First Street has halted after conflicts between the town and the architect.

Ferriday Mayor Gene Allen said Friday the town hired architect Chris Williams from Pineville to design the new building, but an issue arose that prevented the construction company, Arkel Construction of Baton Rouge, from starting.

“(Williams) said he had not gotten paid,” Allen said.

But Allen said the town sent Williams a check two weeks ago.

Allen said the issue had been resolved and he expects the construction to start Monday, but Williams said this was not true.

“The issue has not been resolved,” Williams said.

Williams said he did not feel comfortable discussing the matter without the consent of his client (Ferriday), but did say that the town only partially paid him.

In October, Ferriday began planning for the restoration of buildings within its downtown area, including the old Arcade Theatre on Louisiana Avenue and a new community center and business incubator to be built next to the old Pasternack lot.

The cost of the community center is $1.069 million paid for by HUD and USDA grants and capital outlay funds, Concordia Parish Economic Development Director Teresa Dennis said in October.

A business incubator, Dennis said, is a public place where private business owners who do not have a building of their own can start out by leasing space from the town for a nominal fee.

The start date for construction of the building was scheduled after Jan. 1.

Allen said demolition of the Arcade Theatre is still on schedule and he expects the building to be torn down in two-and-a-half weeks.

The Louisiana Secretary of State’s office granted funds to rebuild the theatre and convert it to a performing arts theatre, complete with a recording studio where private citizens could pay to record music.

Arkel Construction Company could not be reached Friday.