Senior/rec center panel suggests new building
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 voted on Wednesday, July 17, to recommend to city leaders a complete new building rather than rehab the building purchased from the YMCA at 400 E. Lincoln one year ago
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 for a short period of time.
This week’s meeting took place at press time for Downtown Newsmagazine but some details from the meeting were available.
The SCC board voted to suggest to the city commission at its meeting on Monday, July 22, that the city demolish the current building and instead construct a new facility with a $28 million budget that would cover both construction and soft costs associated with the project.
YMCA space is included in the $28 million project but the issue of the community group as part of the new center is still unresolved. Initially the YMCA had requested to remain at the facility for only a few years but recently announced it wanted a permanent home for its activities which include a pool. Discussions are reportedly underway to address issues that include what the YMCA would pay as a tenant, the costs of a pool, along with the question of how much space the group needs for its activities.
The meeting on July 17 followed a July 10 meeting of the SCC to receive updated building information from the NORR development and planning firm, including a number of options 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.
The information presented to the ad hoc committee on July 10 showed detailed drawings and costs associated with three main options, along with some variations.
The least expensive option involved 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.
SCC members asked NORR officials to return July 17 with an even more refined proposal in hopes that a recommendation could be made to the city commission on July 22 because the current Next lease with the Birmingham School District for use of the former Midvale elementary school, which the group has been using for its programs, expires 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. A game plan for funding the new community center has yet to be developed.
