Politics & Government

Community Center Proposal Offers Multiple Options For Possible Renovation

Three viable options were discussed, ranging in cost from $3.7 to $5.9 million.

Judith Leblein Josephs, director of the Department of Community Programs, together with architect David Rosen of The Rosen Group, presented a variety of options for the proposed renovation of the Summit Community Center at Monday evening's Common Council meeting.

Built in 1954, the center serves between 900 and 1,500 residents each week, Leblein Josephs explained. Out of nine options that grew out of public input meetings, the three most viable were outlined, ranging in cost from $3.7 million to $5.9 million.

Besides structural, energy, HVAC, parking and accessibility concerns about the building, there is a strong need to create additional spaces for a dedicated Senior Lounge, a similar Youth Lounge, storage and parking improvements, Leblein Josephs said. Additionally, Hurricane Irene and most certainly Hurricane Sandy has emphasized the need for the Community Center to serve as a shelter and be equipped for that task. Currently, the building would not meet sheltering standards.

The first option, C, would provide for additional programming, an expanded and enlarged gym, and would consist of an 8,000 square foot renovation and a 6,800 square foot addition, with a price tag of $3.7 million.

Option H would also provide for additional programming, but would include a new gym in a new orientation, while the existing gym would remain as is. The cost is estimated at $5.5 million and would see 4,200 square feet renovated and an 11,600 square foot addition. 

Option I would provide for additional programming, an expanded and enlarged gym, as well as a new attached additional gym. Again, 8,000 square feet would be renovated while 12,500 square feet would be added at an estimated $5.9 million. 

Leblein Josephs said the Department of Community Programs has been looking at all options since 2008 and is submitting these proposals to ask the Common Council to point them in the right direction so they can know how to proceed in the new year. 

With the exception of some programs which are offered free to seniors, the programming offered is all fee-based and that would continue, said Leblein Josephs, who added that the Department of Community Programs is already taking advantage of every possible space it can, including public schools gyms when permissible. She also noted that currently "energy is flying out of every orifice," and joked that while she and the building were "born" the same year, she has had "more work done." Taping the windows in an attempt to keep heat in is no longer a solution, she said, adding that she does not want to see the city continue to spend good money after bad. 

Councilman Tom Getzendanner thanked Leblein Josephs for her presentation but said in light of the $100 million in bonds the city is currently carrying, he believes the $640,000 made from the sale of 2 Walnut Street, which was previously being used as a youth center, is all the city should allocate toward renovations at this time.

Councilman Al Dill Jr. disagreed, calling the current Community Center building "a piece of crap" and "neglected." Dill said renovations are "way overdue" and have been discussed since the 1990s. 

"If we don't do it right now, nothing will change for seven to ten years," he said, adding that he did not want to be watching a council meeting from his living room a decade from now hearing the same discussion. Dill invited the community to go to the center to "take the grand tour" for themselves.

Mayor Ellen Dickson said many of the city's assets, including the fire department, are in need of improvements, and while she hopes that something can be done for the Community Center, the city has "a lot of capital costs ahead of us." 
 
While council members agreed that the presentation was comprehensive and well-developed, it was a theatrical plea from senior citizen and Community Center champion Miles MacMahon that said it all. (See attached video.)

Council members agreed to examine each of the options presented and get back to the Department of Community Programs with their recommendations by the second December council meeting.

For more on the proposed renovations, visit the City website at www.cityofsummit.org and view the Department of Community Programs Page.


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