SEBASTIAN — Renew, repair and renovate what’s already there, rather than build a new all-inclusive facility – that was the message delivered by residents Oct. 13 during an initial, sparsely attended public workshop, as the City of Sebastian embarked on a Community Center needs assessment.
The project had been on the back burner for the past year or so, as City leadership changed and other more urgent projects took precedence. With $10,000 budgeted, the project was awarded to Outlier Planning, LLC, of West Palm Beach, coming in with the low bid of $8,200, to “conduct a Community Center needs assessment, market analysis, needs evaluation/recommendations, site construction evaluation and cost evaluation.”
The assessment includes not only the Community Center building, but also two City-owned buildings adjacent to the City Hall, which have been remodeled and now house the Sebastian Art Club/Art Center and the Senior Center. All three facilities are overcrowded, as more groups and events vie for the limited space. Storage is also inadequate.
Brandon Schaad, of Outlier Planning, facilitated the workshop, taking notes as residents spoke. He appeared slightly taken aback by the opposition to the suggestion of any new construction, specifically an all-inclusive facility that could accommodate numerous activities within one, aesthetically pleasing, up-to-date facility.
Such push-back might have been related to who attended the workshop – and who did not. Sebastian’s senior citizens were well represented. Neither the local youth, frequently said to “have nothing to do in Sebastian,” nor families with young children, were represented.
“It’s disappointing there is no one here representing the youth,” said City Councilwoman Andrea Coy, who attended as a member of the public. “What do the kids want to do? We need to reach out (to them).”
Mayor Bob McPartlan, also present as a resident, said a lot of local kids would like a place for them, “maybe open from 4 to Midnight, where they could have karaoke, coffee, just hang out.”
Schaad mentioned some possibilities: construct an all-encompassing facility; roofing over the side-by-side Senior Center/Art enter to add more space.
He said groups such as the YMCA, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts as well as other groups have expressed interest in making use of such facilities if they became available.
City Manager Joe Griffin said the idea of a new, centrally-located, multi-purpose building could be a reasonable, practical idea.
He pointed to the potential for economies of scale and added, “We want our town to be aesthetically pleasing.”
Janet Schiefer, a member of the Quilt Club, which meets at the Art Club building, said that the Art Club building is in “dire need” of more space, so tables and materials for both painters and quilters needn’t be constantly shifted around.
There was a lot of opposition to even the idea of tearing down the current, old Community Center, which has recently undergone a mini-facelift.
One member of the public complained that events such as wedding receptions disrupt the regular activities and classes and leave the place “a wreck! Very messy!”
She also opined that community young people have things to do, listing baseball, basketball and the Boys and Girls Club. She also noted that additional youth activities would mean more staffing and said the citizens don’t want to pay more taxes for new buildings.
Coy said that providing space for such activities as banquets and wedding receptions would “take away from local businesses.”
“We need to consider – is Sebastian going to continue providing space for groups for free?” Coy asked. “I hope we could be able to continue.”
City Recreation Supervisor Kathy Falzone, who has been with the Center for 33 years, expressed her own opposition to demolishing the old building, and emphasized how good the place looks with new murals inside and the repainted exterior.
Schaad recorded the suggestions and comments and told the group, “There will be other chances to give input.”
