PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — When it was built in 1944, the William V. Haskell Community Center immediately became a place where youth and adults could gather to exercise, hold meetings and conduct other activities.
Now that 68 years have passed, the facility is showing its age. The three roofs on the building are leaking and the floor joists are beginning to rot, the electrical service is outdated, asbestos is in the wall and ceiling panels, the chimney is cracked and breaking up and more.
In 2006, the community began sketching plans to replace the 7,200-square-foot building, but those plans were hampered due to the downturn in the economy.
Anxious to secure the center’s future, the City Council has turned the issue over to the voters.
On Nov. 6, a referendum question on the ballot will read, “Do you favor the construction of a new community center to replace the current facility?”
If the referendum is approved, the city will proceed with plans to build the new center, but only after fundraising efforts bring in a minimum of half of the $6.8 million project costs. Approximately $3.75 million of the remaining cost will come from taxpayers.
If the referendum is defeated, the city will repair the current recreation center to meet minimum health and safety standards.
The existing Haskell Center on Main Street has a gym and a lounge as well as office space.
It would cost an estimated $877,000 to make minimum repairs and meet Americans With Disabilities Act requirements, according to figures provided by the city. At the same time, those repairs would not ameliorate additional issues with the Main Street center. At this point, the small size of the building limits programming opportunities, and there is inadequate parking and spectator seating. It also is located in a high traffic area, which compromises safety.
If voters support a new center, it will be located on 8 acres on Chapman Street. The site was chosen because of its closeness to the downtown, the outdoor pool, the bicycle path and Riverside Park, which is where the Presque Isle Recreation Department holds its soccer program.
Originally, the architectural plan for the new facility called for it to be a $10 million, 37,000-square-foot, two-story facility. That was scaled back due to the downturn in the economy. The revised plans call for a 30,000-square-foot, single-story facility.
City officials said that it will meet community needs for the next 70 years, with expanded space for all age groups. It will feature a teen and senior center, walking track, gymnasium, multipurpose room, locker rooms, art room and kitchen facilities.
Proponents also said that it would provide a safe place for families to gather, along with offering more activities for youth and seniors. It also will increase traffic in the downtown area, discourage outmigration, encourage healthy lifestyles and combat obesity.
The city secured funding several years ago to clean up the Chapman Street land and make sure it is free from contaminants.
Further details about the project, along with architectural drawings and plans, can be found on the city’s website.
……it’s amazing that this facility satisfied P.I. needs when the population was over 12,000 but now that the city is about 1/3 less it is not large enough…….
……..it’s amazing that when P.I. had 12,000 in population the rec center seemed to handle the community needs but now that the population has shrunk by 1/3 it’s not large enough……
Waste of money. Construct an insulated metal building for 25% or less. Why do we need to waste taxpayer money because our politicians want pretty. Just look at the Ashland school for an example or in other wors we don’t need a one time prom dress but a set of good work clothes. Vote NO.
The Haskell Center has seen it’s better days. They’ve done an amazing job keeping it as usable as they have over the years. It is time however to replace it. The gym is way too small for almost anything.They really need locker rooms for people to change in, instead of the one bathroom that everyone uses. It’s just a very old building, with a lot of great memories….Maybe they don’t need such a grand new building, but they do need a new building. If they could scale it back and save a little more money; but keep everything in mind and on paper for a future expansion/addition, when the economy is better. For example, you could live without a walking track for now. There is one at the Gentile Building at UMPI, a half mile away. There is a bike path for walking in the summer. You could cut that expense for now….It is time, however, for a new building for the people of Presque Isle.
They’re just jealous of Caribou’s.
And Caribou’s cost only half of what this project is going to cost. Maybe scaled down is a good idea
That rendering looks like a grammar school built in the 1950’s……….
Here’s an idea why don’t we take the money that it is going to cost to build this, and actually put it back into the budget, so we can pay our fire department and police department without making cuts. Even better how about Mr. Bennett cuts his income of 96k per year and put that back into the budget. $96,000 you make and your want to cut the jobs of people who barely are making ends meet. SHAME ON YOU!!!
agreed! They want to cut the police and fire depts. Then want us to pay for this. I will be voting NO. They also talk about closing the out door pool. Notice there is only a proposed pool in the plans. Fix the old building and repair the pool. Save the luxeries for when we have proper police and fire protection. Our town manager is not only over paid but he also has an over paid asst. to run our large town of 9,000.
Well here is my thought process in 2011 Mr. Bennett was crying about how hard it was going to be to balance the budget. Not even 6 mths later there is an article in the Star Herald about how his salary went up to 96000. In the meantime of that they cut vital service to our town by making cuts in the fire/police department. So my question to Mr. Bennett, “was there a problem with balancing the town budget, or was there a problem finding out how you were going to get paid a big fat salary?” Don’t forget Mr. Bennett, some of us backwoods folks to know how to read and we remember what we read.