Senior/rec center panel nears recommendation
By David Hohendorf
The Ad Hoc Senior/Recreation Center Committee (SCC) advising the Birmingham City Commission on development of a senior and recreation center for the city appears like it is inching toward a recommendation to city leaders for a complete new building rather than rehabbing the building purchased at 400 E. Lincoln one year ago, based on comments gathered at a committee meeting this week.
The building purchase was designed to provide a home for Next, which provides services for those 50 years of age and older in both Birmingham and a few neighboring communities, along with keeping the YMCA as a tenant.
Members of the SCC met on Wednesday, July 10, to receive updated building information from the NORR development and planning firm, including a number of options for the city to consider for the senior and community center. An earlier feasibility report from the NORR firm had been presented to the city commission on May 20 of this year but commissioners declined to formally accept the report which was lacking in cost figures for different approaches for the building which has been the home to the YMCA Birmingham for decades. The May report to the commission also contained the results of a community survey conducted by NORR, which the firm said showed respondents were generally looking for a more modernized and accessible building, an open gathering space for the community and enough space to support the activities that the YMCA and Next offer.
The information presented to the ad hoc committee this week showed detailed drawings and costs associated with three main options, along with some variations, with costs ranging from $15.4 million to as high as $31.341 million.
The least expensive option involves using the current 40,000 square foot building with renovations to bring the building up to date in terms of codes and current activity needs. Variations of this option included a building with and without the current YMCA pool. General construction costs were pegged at about $14.4 million, although NORR representatives, when questioned by committee members, estimated that overall costs could be 25 percent higher when all costs beyond actual construction expenses are factored in.
It was estimated that this project would take 14 months to complete, and would involve using most of the existing mechanicals for the building.
The second option presented would involve using the existing building and expanding it with an addition on the north half of the structure. The expanded building would be about 64,640 square feet and the construction would take18 months, during which time the building would not be useable by the YMCA. NORR officials said this option would be minimally code compliant and would involve replacing most of the current mechanical equipment of the building. The cost for this option was pegged at $23.6846 million.
The third optioned presented to the committee was for complete removal of the current building and construction of a completely new facility. This option would create 73,000 square feet at a cost of $28.641 million to $31.341 million, depending on whether a pool was part of the new building.
Committee members raised a number of questions relative to placement of a new structure on the site land and what the impact in terms of costs would be if a smaller new structure was built.
SCC members asked NORR officials to return next week with an even more refined proposal plus answers to a number of questions raised at this week’s committee meeting in hopes that a recommendation could be made the following week to the city commission.
In a straw poll of committee members, there appeared to be more support for construction of a completely new community center building and the option of just rehabbing the current building having the least support.
City officials did say at the meeting that talks are underway with the Birmingham School District to extend the current lease of the former Midvale elementary school which Next has been using for its programs but is projected to expire in 2026.
Birmingham voters in November of 2023 approved a .33-mill levy for three years for interim improvements and creation of a sinking fund to help underwrite improvements.
