Delve into 12: Community Center

In 2012, voters could decide once again whether they want a community center at Bayfront Park Recreation Center.

It’s an idea that nearly two-thirds of voters rejected in March 2004.

But Mayor Jim Brown, who chaired a community center development committee at the time, believes that voters might feel differently now.

“There was a lot of anti-Town Hall sentiment at the time, and the community center just got caught up in the negativity,” he said. “I’ve been surprised now by the number of people in support of it.”

The Longboat Key Town Commission discussed the issue at a May workshop. They talked about using such a facility for health screenings, art classes and exercise and, potentially, as a site to host wedding receptions, community associations and large meetings. In the event of a hurricane, it could be used as a place for town officials to regroup. The commission also discussed the costs, estimated in a memorandum sent by then-Town Manager Bruce St. Denis at approximately $7 million for the project in addition to $200,000 to $300,000 in annual maintenance costs. At that meeting, the commission directed St. Denis to begin the process of hiring a design professional in accordance with the Consultant’s Competitive Negotiations Act (CCNA) using a 2003 building plan designed by architect Lisa Wannemacher as a starting point for discussion.

After putting the plan out to bid, the commission approved a contract with Wannemacher’s firm in November to develop a prospectus for the potential project. Also in November, the commission approved the $452,500 purchase of a .71-acre parcel located in between Bayfront Park and Pattigeorge’s that could enhance the community-center concept, because past studies found that the town was short of the land it needed for the project. Former Commissioner Gene Jaleski argued against the purchase at the time and said that the proposed community center could harm efforts to create a town center at the Avenue of the Flowers shopping center.

“Listen to the rabbi (Jonathan Katz) who said we should aggregate our resources in one spot to attract tourists and residents to one area,” Jaleski said. “Tourists aren’t going to go to Bayfront Park, and residents probably aren’t going to go to the Publix, except to shop. We need to find some way of aggregating everything to attract a core of people into a social cluster.”

According to Town Manager Dave Bullock, the town will hold two community meetings in January to gather community input. If the project moves forward, the referendum question could be placed on the ballot in the August primary or November general election.

Fast fact: The Bayfront Park Recreation Center building served as the activity center for the former Far Horizons resort, now the Vizcaya condominiums. Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Dr. Murray “Murf” Klauber donated the building to the town in the early 1980s.

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