Committee rethinks potential info center uses

LAKEWOOD RANCH — What could the Summerfield Information Center become one day?

That has yet to be determined. But for now, it’s back to the concept board.

Members of an ad hoc committee formed to study potential uses for the property, should it become available for purchase, scrapped an idea to turn the building into an extension of Lakewood Ranch Town Hall with three large meeting rooms and office space.

Architect Arif Abdulla donated time to develop plans based on feedback from the committee’s last meeting and worked with contractor Magnum Builders, who built Lakewood Ranch’s operations facility, to determine estimated costs.

“In the future it might be cost-effective, but for right now, leaving the rooms pretty much as they are and utilizing the space for smaller groups seems to be an optimal way of using it,”

– Bob Swiatek, Committee Chairman

The $637,492 price tag for renovations left committee members searching for alternative ideas during their meeting Monday.

“This number is more than the building’s worth,” committee member Jane Bruyer said of the structure, for which the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office lists a total just value of $463,800.

Instead, committee members now are leaning toward doing minimal renovations and keeping the building as a flexible-space community center concept. It could house club meetings, store supplies for Lakewood Ranch’s clubs or even serve as a sort of home base for a future sports league at Summerfield Park. The venue could host tai chi classes, meetings before soccer games or other endeavors.

“If, in the future, there shows a need for three more large meeting spaces, or additional offices, that ability is still there; in the future it might be cost-effective, but for right now,  leaving the rooms pretty much as they are and utilizing the space for smaller groups seems to be an optimal way of using it,” Committee Chairman Bob Swiatek said. “This would give us a greater ability (to serve the community).”

Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch currently uses the Summerfield Information Center as an information sales center, although it has plans to construct a new information center farther north. However, it has not announced its plans for the Summerfield Information Center, which also houses offices for Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corp., a nonprofit that plans events for Lakewood Ranch residents, after completion of the new facility.

SMR Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Executive Director Eva Rey led the committee discussion, saying the group’s task is developing a vision — or not developing a vision — for the property. But, having the park adjacent to such a facility would be unique.

Swiatek and other committee members agreed, although some said the concept would be a “hard sell” to their respective community development district boards because of the costs and current lack of perceived need for such a venue.

“I believe it’s good for the community,” Swiatek said. “When people turn off State Road 70, that’s the first (building) people see when they turn into Lakewood Ranch. If there’s a use for it, I think we should do our best to acquire it.”

The committee’s next meeting has not yet been scheduled.