To build a basement or not build a basement – that is the question facing the Hermiston City Council regarding the new Hermiston senior center.
The council this week heard from Krista Appleby or Ascent Architecture went over a proposed design for the Harkenrider Center that will be located on Ridgeway Avenue behind the Hermiston Public Library. The design showed an 8,000-square-foot building with an option for a similar-sized basement. The money for the $2 million center is coming from a federal Community Block Grant. The catch is the estimated cost of the proposed center – named after former Mayor Frank Harkenrider – does not include the basement, something that could come in handy for seniors and the public in general.
If a basement is to be included, the city would have to foot the bill, which is estimated at $480,000. Also problematic, the design the council saw on Monday night does not include money left over for landscaping or a parking area.
Hermiston City Manager Byron Smith told the council that the design is in the preliminary phase and includes all the amenities asked for by the seniors.
“This is kind of everything that everybody wanted,” he said, adding that more work is needed to finalize the priorities for the center before coming up with a concrete design and cost. “We’re doing some refinements on sizes and things to figure out what the priorities are and where to spend the money.
Hermiston Parks and Recreation Director Larry Fetter said a decision on adding a basement needs to be made soon.
“You only have one chance to build a basement and this is it,” he said.
The basement could be used for storage, exercise or receptions, said Fetter.
Hermiston Mayor Dave Drotzmann said he wanted to see actual cost estimations on the project and what all the $2 million grant will cover before giving his support to funding a basement.
“We’ve got some work to do to make it all fit,” said Fetter, who has been working closely with local seniors on the project.
Under the terms of the grant, the center can only be used for activities for people over 50 during its first five years, after which the center would be available for senior center programs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. The center would be available for community uses during all other times.
Appleby told the council that once the design is approved by the council, construction could begin in October with the center ready to open by next summer or fall.
