Zooming in
PGAL, the architecture firm in charge of redesigning the civic center, held a town hall Nov. 12 where residents were asked to rank design options and concepts with either a 1, for most preferred, or a 2, less preferred.
The options included two site plans for pedestrian and vehicular movement through the civic center area, four entrance concepts and eight architectural styles. Residents voted mostly in favor of Site Plan A, Concept Four and Architectural Style E.
Site Plan A includes 17,000 square feet of green space and 66 parking spots, with 10 on-site, 21 on-street and 35 spaces across from Milton Street. The plan also includes six pedestrian access points and six vehicle access points.
The plan had 56 votes for most preferred and 11 votes for less preferred. Site Plan B, which included 22,600 square feet of green space and 59 parking spots, had eight No. 1 votes and six No. 2 votes.
Concept Four includes a two-story building with a shared entryway on the first floor that opens to a shared lobby with the book drop, game room, offices and multipurpose spaces. The second floor includes reading spaces for adults, children and young adults along with a covered patio, work rooms and study cubicles.
Other options included separate entrances for the library and senior center spaces on the same floor with an attached pump room.
Architectural Style E, which pictures long, horizontal two-story buildings was favored 20-3 with a preference for large indoor/outdoor windows similar to the West University Place Recreation Center.
Several residents attended a public comment session Nov. 11 to voice their disagreement with the civic center project, citing issues with changing the traffic patterns, pedestrian mobility and parking.
Citizens also expressed concerns with city officials prioritizing the new civic center over the city's aging wastewater treatment plant and have asked the council to put the master plan projects to a vote.
"I'm concerned that some very cautious mistakes are being made when it comes to our city," West U resident Kallie Rainsberger said during the Dec. 9 public comment session. "Money may need to be diverted away from recreational, unnecessary projects to address public safety, health and rebuilding our end-of-life wastewater treatment plant."
Mayor Pro Tem John Montgomery said he believes the council should put the master plan projects to a bond election and use the capital reserve funds for different projects.
"The vote by council to use capital reserve cash for the community center and library was irresponsible, and in my view, driven by a political desire not to disappoint the senior community," he said in an email to Community Impact. "A decision to fund the community center and library with proceeds from a bond election would not have delayed the [wastewater treatment plant project] by a single day and would have given residents the opportunity to have participated in the funding decision directly."
Mayor Susan Sample said she is proud to support the vision of the city's new civic center.
"The designs presented by PGAL reimagine how these facilities can serve seniors as well as function as a hub for vibrant community gatherings and events," she said. "The civic center and its facilities will be community spaces that should reflect our community and our commitment to providing residents of West U with best-in-class facilities that can be enjoyed by current and future generations.”
Other projects
Community members were also given the opportunity Nov. 12 to give feedback on renovating the existing space at the recreation center. The presentation by PGAL shows the possibility of repurposing the racquetball courts, park maintenance space, and expanding the weight and cardio room.
A $172,600 contract, which is not apart of the master plan, was also approved during the Dec. 9 council meeting to resurface the recreation center's jogging track. The current decomposed granite surface will be replaced with an all-weather surface on the track around the field, behind the recreation center and around the four exercise stations.
