City leaders vote to pause on community center

By Grace Lovins

In a surprising move by the Birmingham City Commission, commissioners voted during the Monday, May 5, meeting to table actions toward the development of a new city community and senior center, intended to also serve as a new home for Next senior services and the Birmingham YMCA on E. Lincoln in the city.

The suggestion was proposed by mayor Therese Longe prior to discussions on the final schematic design for the community center and potential bond vote, which were both on the meeting agenda. “With the final design and cost estimates in hand, I think it behooves us to have a conversation about reevaluating and reconsidering this project.” she said.

Since the start of the project, Longe explained that the city has lost federal funding that was expected to cover about one-third of the construction costs and the cost of construction has increased due to supply costs increases and tariffs. The city had anticipated a roughly $32 million building, but after test fits, schematic designs and developing a detailed cost estimate of the building, the anticipated cost increased to approximately $36.1 million.

“I don’t know if spending $36 or $37 million on a community center right now in the economic climate that we have with costs skyrocketing is the right thing to do right now. I’m in favor of at the very least pausing at the moment to have a greater discussion,” said commissioner Anthony Long.

All seven commissioners stated their support for taking a step back to reevaluate the project and discuss whether it is fiscally responsible to move forward. While representatives of Next senior services did not speak at the meeting, Parrish Underwood, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, said the YMCA intends to remain part of the project.

“We respect the direction and the decision of the commission and as you move forward for continued discussions, I just want to signal and state that we intend to continue to participate with the hopes that we would be able to stay involved and we would be invited to stay involved,” Underwood said.

Commissioners voted unanimously, 7-0, to table approval of the schematic design and work on the bond proposal and move to discuss the project at a later meeting.

A 20-25 year bond to finance the construction was originally proposed to appear on the August or November ballot this year and would cost for the average homeowner just under $200 annually.