After many months of research and planning, “Imagining the Future” for The Jewish Community Center (The J) is now underway.
An e-blast was sent to J members last week explaining construction crews were expected to arrive and begin work earlier this week.
This “signals the start of a near year-long project that will enhance, broaden and refresh The J and our commitment to the community,” The J CEO & President Jim Sluyter said.
The public portion of the fundraising campaign for The J’s 32,000 square foot expansion began last spring. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2020 on what will be known as the Staenberg Family Recreation Complex. It will be located on the west side of the Jewish Community Campus between the White Theatre wing and the Fitness and Sports facility in what is now green space.
“It’s an exciting time to be part of The J,” Sluyter said. “We are so appreciative to the many visionaries and donors who are making this all possible. And we invite everyone in the community to be part of this historic time in the life of our community. Stay tuned, because we’ve only just begun.”
The J has raised just over $13 million for the project, including a #3.75 million donation from lead donor Michael Staenberg.
As construction begins, visitors to The J and the Jewish Community Campus will see changes on the Fitness + Sports + Aquatics (FSA) side of the building. In the e-blast, sent by The J’s chief operating officer, Samantha Hammontree, noted several tennis courts would be removed to provide space for future, closer parking. During construction, a temporary gravel parking lot will be added west of the tennis courts.
A temporary sidewalk will be added from that western lot to provide quicker access to the FSA entrance; there will be no ADA access.
All FSA users are being asked to park either south or west of the tennis courts because there will be no access from the lot north of the tennis courts once construction starts, Hammontree noted.
At different times during the construction, the parking lots south, west and north of the current tennis courts will be affected. The CDC, main entrance and White Theatre parking lots will not be affected.
“With all these temporary adjustments will come some temporary inconvenience,” Hammontree said. “We’ll do our best to provide clear directional signage and to provide clear, safe paths to classes and services with as little ‘mess’ as possible.”
Hammontree suggested people check the website, thejkc.org/construction, or email for ongoing updates.