Plans for new Homewood Recreation Center under review

Residents of Homewood and the Homewood City Council listened to a presentation of plans for a new recreation center on June 25.

Parks and Recreation Board’s Berkley Squires and representatives from Davis Architects provided background on the current facility and introduced plans for the future center, which is projected to cost more than $16 million.

The current center, which was built in 1950, has not been renovated since 1992 and has been deemed outdated by the Parks and Recreation Board.

If approved, the current center will be demolished, and new construction will take place on the same site. The new, tri-level facility is projected to start in October 2012 and would be completed within 13 months.

With the new center, the Parks and Rec Board wishes to accommodate more children in the summer camp; increase membership and program availability; and compete with the Ross Bridge, Vestavia, Mountain Brook areas. The facility will be environmentally friendly and be handicap-accessible.

The plans for the new center will give Homewood the ability to host more practices and games with two gyms, will update the strength training and cardio facility and will incorporate more space to accommodate numerous programs.

The current center has 123 parking spaces and is 23,000 square feet. The new center will be expanded to 173 parking spaces and 44,000 square feet.

If the City Council approves the plans, the City will lose one season at the pool.

They will have to relocate the weight and cardio rooms and will lose one season of summer camp.

Squires added that membership is projected to increase to 5800 members or 33 percent as a result of the new facility.

Fees will also increase as follows: individual $150-200, pool $125-250, non-resident $125-250, all family $200-360. Operating costs will also increase $125,000 when construction is complete by 2015.

Following the presentation, City Council members voiced questions and concerns regarding the presentation and the plans.

City Council member Peter Wright voiced concerns about the plans not focusing on priorities, and Council Member David Hooks voiced concerns that the new cost surpasses the initially projected budget of $11 million.

City Council President Allyn Holladay set a public hearing for July 23 at 6 p.m. at City Hall during the regularly schedule City Council meeting.