The old Wellington Middle School building has recently been a highly sought after item. The Wellington Recreation Commission wanted to conduct renovations to the property to turn it into a new rec center for the community. At February Board of Education meeting, Cohen-Esrey Affordable Partners offered up $250,000 for the building with intentions of turning it into an apartment complex for people age 55 and over. After hearing the potential price tag, and knowing how much the money could help the current owner-USD 353, the WRC decided to take its hat out of the ring.
"Cohen-Esrey offered them $250,000,” William Weber said, WRC Director. “We didn't want to scar their offer by trying to pursue it, to get them [USD 353] to give us a lesser deal or give it to us for free when they're in such need from financial cut backs." Now the search is on for another perspective place for the WRC to land. After a couple of business closings in town there are more vacant buildings the recreation commission might consider taking advantage of.
“I don't know what our next course of action is,” Weber said. “We are trying to communicate with the property owner of Apple Market.” The Apple Market grocery store closed it’s doors last month. Weber noted that if they were able to utilize the old grocery store building, the WRC would still have to use Memorial Auditorium for various activities.
"Is it the best ideal? No because we're still going to have to co-exist somewhere,” Weber mentioned. “But it's a lot closer, just across the street than it is three or four blocks away." The idea of fixing up the Memorial Auditorium has been brought up in the past. Wellington City Manager Gus Collins pointed out some pros and cons of the auditorium.
“The Memorial Auditorium, where they exist now as far as fitness center is a good location,” Collins pointed out. “But it needs a ton of work and that was voted down a couple of years ago.” The City Manager says he doesn’t know where his governing body stands on the auditorium issue. Collins said there has been no discussion as far as coming back with a new plan of a smaller scope for Memorial Auditorium.
"I think we're going to have to explore some options," Weber stated. "We've looked at doing our current site and we're looking at two and a half to three million dollars to renovate and to expand." The Red Line and Red Edge programs for Wellington students at WRC have continued to bring in solid numbers at Memorial Auditorium. Weber said the Red Line event last Thursday had 115 kids in attendance.
"I thought we'd get 100 to 120," Weber said. "So I was real pleased with that number…” During this week of spring break, the WRC is conducting Holiday Ball. The auditorium is opened from 1 p.m to 4 p.m for the rest of this week. Kids can enjoy video games, board games, basketball along with other activities. Weber has said a new rec center will help grow events such as these along with improving the community. For the time being, the search continues.
“There's just so many benefits to having a nice rec center in your community,” Weber affirmed. "When people look at relocating they want something for their kids to do...it all boils down to the quality of life."
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The old Wellington Middle School building has recently been a highly sought after item. The Wellington Recreation Commission wanted to conduct renovations to the property to turn it into a new rec center for the community. At February Board of Education meeting, Cohen-Esrey Affordable Partners offered up $250,000 for the building with intentions of turning it into an apartment complex for people age 55 and over. After hearing the potential price tag, and knowing how much the money could help the current owner-USD 353, the WRC decided to take its hat out of the ring.
"Cohen-Esrey offered them $250,000,” William Weber said, WRC Director. “We didn't want to scar their offer by trying to pursue it, to get them [USD 353] to give us a lesser deal or give it to us for free when they're in such need from financial cut backs." Now the search is on for another perspective place for the WRC to land. After a couple of business closings in town there are more vacant buildings the recreation commission might consider taking advantage of.
“I don't know what our next course of action is,” Weber said. “We are trying to communicate with the property owner of Apple Market.” The Apple Market grocery store closed it’s doors last month. Weber noted that if they were able to utilize the old grocery store building, the WRC would still have to use Memorial Auditorium for various activities.
"Is it the best ideal? No because we're still going to have to co-exist somewhere,” Weber mentioned. “But it's a lot closer, just across the street than it is three or four blocks away." The idea of fixing up the Memorial Auditorium has been brought up in the past. Wellington City Manager Gus Collins pointed out some pros and cons of the auditorium.
“The Memorial Auditorium, where they exist now as far as fitness center is a good location,” Collins pointed out. “But it needs a ton of work and that was voted down a couple of years ago.” The City Manager says he doesn’t know where his governing body stands on the auditorium issue. Collins said there has been no discussion as far as coming back with a new plan of a smaller scope for Memorial Auditorium.
"I think we're going to have to explore some options," Weber stated. "We've looked at doing our current site and we're looking at two and a half to three million dollars to renovate and to expand." The Red Line and Red Edge programs for Wellington students at WRC have continued to bring in solid numbers at Memorial Auditorium. Weber said the Red Line event last Thursday had 115 kids in attendance.
"I thought we'd get 100 to 120," Weber said. "So I was real pleased with that number…” During this week of spring break, the WRC is conducting Holiday Ball. The auditorium is opened from 1 p.m to 4 p.m for the rest of this week. Kids can enjoy video games, board games, basketball along with other activities. Weber has said a new rec center will help grow events such as these along with improving the community. For the time being, the search continues.
“There's just so many benefits to having a nice rec center in your community,” Weber affirmed. "When people look at relocating they want something for their kids to do...it all boils down to the quality of life."
