An upgrade for Lenexa’s original activity and senior center in Old Town – delayed since 2019 – has been put on hold again by city councilmembers concerned about cost increases and the details of a new architectural plan.
Driving the news: A city council committee of the whole gave a cool reception last week to an updated plan to renovate the former Lenexa Community Center and Senior Center, located near the corner of 93rd Street and Pflumm Road.
- A cost increase and some proposed additions to the 2019 study were mentioned, and some councilmembers also said they needed more time to digest the new plan.
Background: In 2018, city officials decided to go ahead with major renovation of the 20,000-square-foot community center, which was built in 1981 and consists of a gymnasium, flexible recreation rooms, a kitchen and offices.
- A separate 4,000-square-foot senior center occupies space across the parking lot to the west.
- The goal from the start was to combine the senior center building, which has functional limitations, into the main building and reconfigure the main building interior that is laid out on three levels.
- The new building and outdoor recreational space would be renamed the Lenexa Old Town Activity Center.
Projected cost: The preliminary study just before the pandemic estimated the project to cost about $7 million and that was included in the city’s long-range capital improvement budget.
- In the years since, however, the cost has gone up. Logan Wagler, director of parks and recreation, added that the initial study missed some programming and physical needs of the property.
- In a presentation to the committee last week, he and Sean Zaudke, principle of Kansas City-based Multistudio architects, offered updated prices that range from $8.6 million to $11.4 million, depending on which building options are approved.
Digging deeper: The new plan differs significantly from the original concept, which was drawn up by a different firm.
- Scouting Park, which is on the same block as the activity center and was part of the first plan, has already received new play equipment and no longer needs to be included in the updated plan, Wagler said.
- But the upper skin of the community center’s gym building is deteriorating and rusty and needs replacement, which would cost about $1 million more than the base build-out price of $8.6 million.
- The new plan also proposed an addition to the south side near the entrance that would replace some of the programming space lost when the senior center moves into the main building, which would add $1.4 million.
- Outdoor space for socializing near pickleball courts would increase the cost by another $427,000.
What they’re saying: Wagler said the additions to the plan address some ongoing needs and would give the city space to program a new summer camp program that would bring people and revenue to the city.
- However councilmembers seemed less than enthusiastic.
- Mayor Mike Boehm started the discussion by saying he’d like to table the concept for more review.
- “I think it’s changed a lot from where it started,” he said. Boehm was also skeptical of an architectural feature that reflected the city’s railroad history. “I don’t know that they’re anything but expensive,” he said.
Key quote: “This is a big decision and people are paying attention to money right now,” Boehm added.
What else: Other councilmembers listed several architectural points they were concerned with, including:
- the door entrances and foot traffic between the gym and pickleball courts,
- current location of the building’s mechanical system near the front entrance,
- the proposed walkway inside the building
- and the lack of a mural.
Zooming out: Councilmember Thomas Nolte also mentioned the large amount of storage space and large restrooms in the plan.
- The community center renovation concept has its roots in a more comprehensive brainstorming session on updates for Old Town, which was the city’s original central hub before the extensive “City Center” development just west of Interstate 435 was begun.
- The 2016 study resulted in several long-range proposals, including a reconstruction of a section of Santa Fe Trail Drive, quieter wayside horns at the two railroad crossings nearby and the activity/senior center renovation.
More discussion on Lenexa community center
Councilmember Melanie Arroyo said the investment in the activity center has an appeal for people in the Old Town neighborhood.
- “Something we often hear from constituents is how this particular part of the city often is left out,” she said. “I feel like this is really what people wanted to see when they meant that they also wanted amenities on this side of the city.”
- As the discussion last week ended, councilmembers said the comments on the plan were part of a back-and-forth that could be compared to the planning for the $73 million Justice Center at Britton Street and Prairie Star Parkway, heard this summer at the planning commission.
- “I don’t look at this as anything other than a good dialogue. But it’s our job to look out for the residents and tax dollars and construction and everything else. So don’t be discouraged,” Boehm said.
