A DILAPIDATED red-brick building sits forlornly on the northwest corner of Fifth and Maiden Lane. With boarded doors, shattered windows and a rotting roof, the two-story structure looks to be a prime candidate for the wrecking ball.

But some Quincy officials see it as something more. They envision it as a beacon -- a glimmering ray of hope -- for an idea that's been talked about quietly for years.

These officials see the building as a potential starting point for a campaign to transform the neighborhood just south of Quincy's downtown into an enclave for artists.

Their idea is to use financial incentives to recruit a working artist to rehab the old building at Fifth and Maiden Lane. They'd like to see the lower floor turned into a studio or gallery and the upper floor turned into an apartment where the artist would live.

Then supporters would seek out other buildings in the same neighborhood -- from 12th Street to the river and from State Street to Broadway -- that could be offered to other artists for the same sort of thing. Financial incentives and Quincy's reputation as a vibrant, and growing, arts community would be the chief lures.

If this vision gets played out to its full potential, the neighborhood would eventually be buzzing with working artists, galleries, studios, shops, cafes and other creative endeavors.

The plan is to start the ball rolling with a national marketing effort, then see if it picks up speed or crashes with a thud.

Jim Mentesti, president of the Great River Economic Development Foundation, is convinced the concept would take off if given a chance to fly.

"It's kind of a bold move," he said. "But we really expect this would have a very significant and quick domino impact."

Others are more cautious, including Alderman Steve Duesterhaus. He's chairman of the City Council's Finance Committee, which heard about the idea last week and directed city staff to explore the concept further.

"It's a nice concept, but we don't know how many, if any, takers are going to be out there," he said. "Until we try it, we don't know if the program is going to be a success or not."

Chuck Bevelheimer, Quincy's director of planning and development, sees considerable potential in launching what he and Mentesti have dubbed the "artist work to live" incentive program. He feels a creative venture like this could "generate some more excitement in the downtown."

Bevelheimer said a similar program has been working well in Paducah, Ky., where more than 70 artists have been attracted since an "artist relocation program" was launched seven years ago in that 26,307-population community.

Paducah's program focused on a downtrodden part of town a few blocks from the Ohio River. Quincy's program would be centered a few blocks from the Mississippi River -- in a part of the downtown dubbed the "Arts Corridor" for its proximity to the Oakley-Lindsay Civic Center, Quincy Community Theater, Gardner Museum of Architecture and Design, Villa Kathrine tourism office, assorted arts-related businesses and venerable Washington Park, which hosts arts events throughout the year.

That part of town also is home to the Quincy Society of Fine Arts -- the oldest community arts council in America.

Bevelheimer said the neighborhood, with a mix of residential and commercial properties, seems a natural for being transformed into an artists' enclave.

"There ought to be something we can do unique to try to attract artists to this area," he said.

What he and Mentesti have in mind is a plan to offer various incentives for artists to take possession of buildings acquired by the city through its "fix or flatten" program, which requires owners to rehab downtrodden structures or have them bulldozed. Properties would be given away in some cases, and low-cost loans would be made available to artists for rehab work.

When the city recently acquired judicial deed to the property at Fifth and Maiden Lane, local officials realized it could make an ideal pilot site to see if the "artist work to live" program is feasible.

"It's not the nicest-looking building on the block, but it does lend itself well to this concept," Bevelheimer said.

He said the city would otherwise have to spend about $10,000 to demolish the building and clear the site. But rather than knock it down, he is proposing the city give the building to an artist willing to "turn it into something positive for the city."

Mentesti, who has visited Paducah, said he believes Quincy officials "are on to something" with this project. He has talked to several local artists about the concept, and "they're all very convinced this is the right thing for us to do."

Rob Dwyer, executive director of the QSFA, told The Herald-Whig he sees no reason why a project like this couldn't work.

"If artists would move to Paducah, they'd move to Quincy," he said.

The "artist work to live" venture is also somewhat similar to the "50 Miles of Art" marketing campaign that's been drawing artists for several years to the Mo. 79 corridor that runs through Clarksville, Louisiana and Hannibal, Mo.

Dwyer said he wouldn't mind seeing the "50 Miles of Art" concept expanded northward into Illinois to become "100 Miles of Art."

"We (Quincy) could be in the middle with Nauvoo at the top," he said.

But that's another topic to be pondered down the road.

First off, Quincy must find an artist willing to take on the challenge of turning a ramshackle building at Fifth and Maiden Lane into a shining example of what a dream can become.

Then the rest of the pieces can start falling into place.

-- ehusar@whig.com/221-3378