The troubled Collin County arts hall, which faces an $18 million shortfall and uncertain date for a groundbreaking, needs a new executive director.

James Baudoin, who has overseen design for the $85 million performance center, has taken a similar job in Asheville, N.C.

Mr. Baudoin said Sunday he had hoped the Collin County hall – a joint project of Allen, Frisco and Plano – would be further along by now.

"It's not moving at a galloping speed," said Mr. Baudoin, who was hired in 2005. "It will get built. But it's moving incredibly slow, slower than I care to work."

He said he's excited about the chance to design the hall in Asheville, a city of about 75,000 in western North Carolina. Like the Collin County hall, it will have 2,100 seats and host a wide range of performances.

Frisco Mayor Maher Maso, a longtime supporter of the Collin County hall, said he does not believe Mr. Baudoin's departure indicates the project is in jeopardy.

"This is nothing negative," said Mr. Maso, who also serves as vice president of the Arts of Collin County Commission. "I hope it's not perceived that way. The reality is, we've accomplished a lot. It's moving slower because of the number of entities involved."

The hall, to be built near State Highway 121 in Allen, has been planned for almost a decade. Voters in Allen, Frisco and Plano have approved $57 million for construction. Collin County commissioners kicked in $3 million, and private donors have given $7 million.

But construction costs have risen to $85 million, leaving an $18 million shortfall. The three participating cities now must decide whether to allocate more public funds after repeated assurances they would not.

Henry Lessner, who is in charge of private fundraising, said Mr. Baudoin's decision to leave should not hurt future donations.

"We'll keep plugging on and see if we can get it done," said Mr. Lessner, president of the Arts of Collin County Foundation. "It's going to take a little longer than we hoped, but we're going to stick with it."

Mr. Baudoin, 52, said he hoped to remain until the hall opened. But, with the funding problems, completion has been pushed back until at least 2011.

And he said he is not sure how city officials would address the shortfall.

"Now it's in the hands of the politicians," Mr. Baudoin said. "In a nutshell, I think it's a beautifully designed project. But I think the Arts of Collin County is going to be a very long-term project."

Commission members have no timetable for hiring a new executive director, Mr. Maso said. Mr. Baudoin starts his job in North Carolina this month but offered to consult on the Collin County project through July.

"I hate to lose such a good man," Mr. Maso said. "James came to us with a set goal in mind: to get the project designed. Now we're working to finalize the financial package, however that turns out."

Joyce Dorr, president of the board of the Asheville center, said she considered Mr. Baudoin one of the top theater managers in the country. "He is the ideal, perfect person for where we are now," said Dr. Dorr, adding that he has given officials periodic advice at no charge on how to develop an arts hall.