After 17 years of debate about what to do with the historic Spiegel Community Center in Pittsford, the town board is recommending a $9.2 million renovation of the 100-year-old building.
The proposal comes after public meetings, recommendations from engineers and architects, and input from a committee of citizens.
Town supervisor Bill Smith says the matter has been undecided for so long because many differing opinions made it difficult to move forward. Some want to build a new community center.
"And then there's a large body of opinion in town that says, 'Look, we are surrounded by health clubs, by gyms, by golf clubs, by the JCC, by several YMCAs, we shouldn't be spending any money on a community center at all," Smith said.
The current proposal is seen as a middle ground between the options of repairing the existing building at a cost of $6.1 million and constructing a brand new community center.
The proposed renovations include restoration of the building's facade and interior. The drop ceiling added in the 1980s would be removed to expose the original tin ceiling. The addition of space in the back of the building would house a new lobby, offices and showers. "What's being proposed works esthetically,” Smith said. “We know it works functionally and programmatically, because there will simply be more room and more opportunity for us to put on our community programs and for community organizations to have places to meet."
A structural evaluation of the center by Passero Associates in 2014 deemed the building structurally sound and said it should last at least another 100 years.
The building, which was constructed in 1916, was originally built as the Pittsford School, also known as the Lincoln School, because of its location on Lincoln Avenue.
Pittsford voters will be asked to decide whether to proceed with the project, which would cost the owner of the average ($275,075) home in the town $69 per year for 15 years. The date for the referendum has not been determined yet, but Smith said the vote may be held in mid-October.