LYNNWOOD
At the age of 30, it’s in need of a facelift.
That’s the conclusion of a consultant’s study, which analyzed potential upgrades for Lynnwood’s Recreation Center and possible creation of a separate community center.
The consultant, Northwest Architectural Co., Dec. 7 released proposals for remodeling the existing recreation center site at 18900 44th Ave. W. and for creating a separate community center site.
In January, the City Council will review the proposals and discuss both the nuts and bolts of which plan to follow plus some larger policy questions, including whether to focus on remodeling the existing recreation center site within the city’s municipal campus or building a separate facility somewhere else.
“We’ve known for some time that we have to do this and it’s reaching a point where we’ll have to make a decision,” said Council President Loren Simmonds, who discussed the proposals with city staff and fellow council members during the council’s Dec. 7 and 8 summit in La Conner.
This isn’t the first time the city’s taken a close look at its recreation center needs.
The city completed feasibility studies in 1999 and 2004. The earlier study only considered a community center; the 2004 study combined construction of a new community center with a full renovation of the Recreation Center.
The existing 28,765-square-foot site was built with funds from a 20-year municipal bond and is owned by the city, debt-free.
Maintenance issues top the list of reasons to renovate in the short term. Ultimately, however, the city has to consider future needs, said Lynn Sordel, director of the city’s parks, recreation and cultural arts department.
A heating and ventilation system needs to be replaced, the roof is old and worn out, the pool needs a new filtration system and people with disabilities often have a hard time navigating the narrow hallways.
“Someone in a wheelchair cannot move from the lobby to the therapy pool,” said Sordel.
Three proposals for remodeling and expanding the recreation center include:
Basic renovation. This least expensive option would cost an estimated $14.8 million to $15.9 million in 2009 dollars and would add 1,650 square feet of space, a new asphalt roof, locker rooms, expanded cardio and fitness facilities and would get rid of the racquetball courts, which have been a financial loser for the city, Sordel said.
Upgrade. This second option includes the basic renovation and would add 5,251 square feet of space, retain two racquetball courts and add 9,100 square feet of new pool decking and aquatic features, like a slide and zero-depth entry, which allows users to wade into the pool as they do at a beach. It would cost an estimated $17.4 to $19.7 million in 2009 dollars.
Full package. Includes the basics plus 6,314 square feet of new space, 15,000 square feet of new aquatics features and pool decking and keeps three of four racquetball courts at an estimated cost of $21.3 million to $24 million. The fourth racquetball court would be used as a childcare drop-in space, Sordel said. This option would include a retractable roof over the aquatics area.
The consultant’s report says to reap the most benefits, any expansion of the fitness area should be at least 3,000 square feet. “Otherwise, we’re not getting a return on the investment,” Sordel said. A consultant cost analysis showed that the basic concept would add $900,000 in new expenditures, mostly for personnel, and would bring $615,000 in revenue, meaning the city would have to subsidize about 30 percent of the cost, Sordel told the Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Advisory Committee Dec. 11.
The second concept would bring in about $730,000 in revenues and add $1 million worth of expenditures. Option three would would bring in $817,000 in new revenue and add $1.2 million in expenditures, he said.
In addition to discussing improvements to the existing recreation center, council members will take a look at two options to create a new community center.
The first option would connect that new community center to the existing recreation center. A second option would have the city build a new community center somewhere else.
Council members will review proposals again at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 7, and will focus on the financing Tuesday, Jan. 22, at City Hall.
“It’s going to be a fairly rapidly evolving thing,” said Mayor Don Gough.
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