If Castro Theatre organist David Hegarty can raise enough funds to finish his custom-built organ, the neighborhood landmark will be home to the world's largest hybrid pipe/digital organ. 

Three years ago, Hegarty, started the nonprofit Castro Organ Devotees Association (CODA) with the hope of raising enough money to build out his design for an impressive custom organ. With seven keyboards and more than 800 stops, the instrument will preserve that classic Wurlitzer sound using wind-blown pipes but will be supplemented with 21st Century digital technology. 

The Castro Theatre's need for a new organ became real this September, when Hegarty took the stage for his last tune on "the Mighty Wurlitzer" he'd been playing since the early 80s. (The organ had been on loan from owner Richard Taylor, who moved out of San Francisco this fall.) For now, the Castro organist is playing an electronic instrument from his private collection, while he continues work on the custom piece he plans to install as soon as he raises enough dough. 

The new organ, currently under construction. (Photo courtesy of SFCODA) 

For years, Hegarty has been working on the design of an 

The fundraising goal is $800,000, with about 25 percent reached so far thanks to the generosity of hundreds of small local donors. Want to help bring the world's largest hybrid organ to the historic Castro Theatre? You can donate at sfcoda.org.