THIS SITE CONTAINS HISTORICAL INFORMATION RELATED TO THE CCFTF AND IS NOT BEING UPDATED.
The Community Center Feasibility Task Force (CCFTF) has completed its 18-month study process, concluding that it is feasible for the City of Upper Arlington to construct, operate and maintain a community center. At a Special City Council Meeting on December 16, 2020, the CCFTF Co-Chairs, Margie Pizzuti and Nick Lashutka, provided an extensive overview of the study process, their findings and recommendations, with the Task Force Report submitted to City Council and made available to the community early in the New Year.
In response to the Task Force’s conclusion that it is feasible for the City to construct, operate and maintain a community center without an increase in taxes, on January 19, 2021, City Council approved legislation to bring the proposed Upper Arlington Community Center to a vote of the people on May 4, 2021, and to authorize various funding mechanisms that would enable the City to construct, a Community Center without any increase in City income or property taxes.
The final CCFTF Report to the Community is available here in its entirety, along with a full history of the work of the Task Force, including meeting minutes and videos.
2019-2020 UPPER ARLINGTON COMMUNITY CENTER FEASIBILITY STUDY
Report to the Community
- Letter of Transmittal
- Acknowledgements
- Table of Contents
- Executive Summary Report
- Resolution of Support for the Feasibility of a Community Center for the City of Upper Arlington
- Letters of Support:
- Upper Arlington Parks & Recreation Advisory Board
- Upper Arlington Senior Advisory Council
02 ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE
- Resolution #11-2019
- Phase I Stakeholder Interview Summary – February 2020
- PHASE I COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REPORT
- – Stakeholder Focus Group Summary – May 2020
- – Community Pop-up Summary – May 2020
- – Community Meeting Summary – May 2020
- Statistically Valid Survey Findings Report – April 2020
- Statistically Valid Survey Crosstabulations – April 2020
- PHASE I COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REPORT
- Phase II PHASE II COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REPORT
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- – Stakeholder Focus Groups and Community Meeting Summary
- Community Center Survey Results Presentation
- Statistically Valid Survey Results – November 2020
- Statistically Valid Survey Cross tabulations – November 2020
- Online Survey Results – November 2020
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- Publicity
- Demographics and Trends Analysis – March 2017
- Membership Market Information
- Similar Provider Analysis – May 2020
- Similar Provider Square Foot Per Capita
- Identified Potential Partnerships – May 2020
- Potential Partnerships by Industry – May 2020
- Partnership Models
- Core Program Spaces Description – May 2020
- Core Building Activity Reference Images – May 2020
- Core Building Space Program – October 2020
07 SITE EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS
- Preliminary Potential Sites Map
- Preliminary Site Evaluation Spreadsheet
- Preferred Sites Map
- Preferred Sites Evaluation Spreadsheet
08 SITE AND BUILDING ANALYSIS / PLANNING
- Municipal Services Center (MSC) Concepts
- Site Plan Concepts
- Site Plan Concepts with City Engineer Comments
- Parking Analysis
- Preliminary Concept Plans
- Preliminary Massing Model
- Kingsdale Concepts
- Existing Kngsdale Site
- Overall Site Development Plan for Kingsdale Site
- Parking Analysis
- Preliminary Community Center Concept Plans
- Preliminary Massing and Stacking Diagrams
- Preliminary Interior Views
- Preliminary Order of Magnitude Budget Summary
- Preliminary Capital Funding Sources
- Overview of City Finances
- Assumptions & Pro Forma
- Membership Structure
- Preliminary Pro Forma – Full Potential
- Preliminary Pro Forma – With Market Stress Test
THE CHARGE
The CCFTF was charged with determining if the Upper Arlington community wants and needs a community center, key questions to be explored in the first phase of the study process. Upon concluding that the community does want and need a facility, a second phase of the study focused on determining the types of facilities and programming that should be in a community center, possible locations, as well as funding strategies. The scope of the feasibility study included:
- Ensuring that the study process provides extensive opportunities for community participation.
- Assessing the community’s needs and existing conditions, including options for the replacement of the City’s existing Senior Center.
- Reviewing the facilities and models of operation in other communities.
- Reviewing Upper Arlington’s history relative to the community center issue.
- Identifying possible locations, desired amenities and projected costs.
- Exploring funding strategies for constructing, operating and maintaining a prospective facility, including consideration of public/private opportunities.
VIDEOS
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
PHASE II
Surveys
A statistically valid telephone survey of 300 randomly selected Upper Arlington voters was fielded in mid-November to gauge resident sentiment on options for a location, building program and funding options. Once the telephone survey had been completed, an online version was made available to all residents in the community, yielding 1,609 responses. While the data obtained from the online version serves only as supplemental information, the responses obtained were generally consistent with those yielded by the telephone survey.
Community Meeting
Thursday, October 8, via Zoom
View the Meeting Video
View the Meeting Presentation
View the Meeting Poll
At the community meeting the Task Force’s consultants shared high-level “blocking and stacking” concepts for the two locations under consideration (former Macy’s site at Kingsdale, and the Municipal Services Center), showing how the various programing components could be incorporated within the available footprint.
PHASE I
Community Pop Ups
A series of Community Pop Ups were held to bring the work of the CCFTF out to the places and events frequented by residents. These pop ups featured quick, idea generating activities for residents to engage in, as well as provide information on how to stay up-to-date and involved in the process.
Dates and locations for the Community Pop Ups:
- UA High School boys basketball home game – January 31
- UA High School girls basketball home game – February 7
- Volunteer UA Expo – February 8
- Elementary Schools Concourse Gallery Reception – February 9
- Tremont Library – February 16
- UA Stage Dinner – February 19
- Giant Eagle Market District (Kingsdale) – February 21
- UA High School Production of Cinderella – February 22
- UA Senior Center – February 27
- Hastings Middle School Production of Frozen – March 6
- Middle Schools Concourse Gallery Reception – March 8
- Additional Pop Ups: Leadership UA Class; UA High School lunch break
Community Meeting
February 27, UA Senior Center, 1945 Ridgeview Road
A community meeting was held to provide residents an opportunity to learn more about the feasibility study, and to provide feedback on the primary questions being addressed in this first phase.
Surveys
A statistically valid survey was fielded from early March through mid-April. This type of survey process is designed to ensure that responses are reflective of the community as a whole. Three thousand randomly selected households were mailed a survey packet that included a cover letter, hard copy of the survey with a postage-paid envelope, as well as a link to complete the survey online if preferred. The survey yielded 632 responses, far exceeding the goal of 400.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the timing for an online survey open to all residents was put on hold.
Youth Engagement
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of surveys for the community’s youth were put on hold.
ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS
To view documents associated with the Community Center Feasibility Task Force, search our Archives Portal – Special Projects, Commissions & Task Forces using the following Special Meeting Type: Community Center Feasibility Task Force
- Williams Proposal
- Request for Qualifications for Third Party Consultant
- Overview of Public Records & Public Meeting Laws
- Summary of Community Center History
- July 18 Memo to Council – Study Group Leadership
- Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan 2018 (Revised 8-26-19 Page 44, Question 10)
- Resolution 11-2019
COMMUNITY CENTER FEASIBILITY TASK FORCE TEAM
Front Row (from left): Chuck Manofsky, Matt Rule, Bill Westbrook, Greg Comfort, Nick Lashutka
Back Row: Todd Walter, Kelly Boggs-Lape, Supen Bowe, Margie Pizzuti, Linda Mauger, Merry Hamilton, Linda Moulakis, Wendy Gomez, Brian Perera
Not Pictured: Dianne Albrecht, Yanitza Brongers-Marrero
Dianne Albrecht Kelly Boggs-Lape Yanitza Brongers-Marrero
Supen Bowe Greg Comfort Wendy Gomez
Merry Hamilton Nick Lashutka, Co-Chair Chuck Manofsky
Linda Mauger Linda Moulakis Brian Perera
Margie Pizzuti, Co-Chair Matthew Rule Todd Walter
Bill Westbrook
SUBCOMMITTEES
The CCFTF Community Engagement Subcommittee was charged with developing an extensive, open and transparent community engagement process that encouraged multiple opportunities for citizen participation and input. With the support and guidance of the professional feasibility study consultant firm, the work of this subcommittee included:
Planning and conducting a variety of public meetings (open houses, focus groups, pop up gatherings, etc.)
Planning and conducting citizen surveys, to include one statistically valid survey, informal online surveys as appropriate, questionnaires, etc.
Reviewing data and resident input gathered through previous outreach (2018 Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan, etc.)
Creating summaries of the feedback obtained through these processes
Members: Dianne Albrecht, Kelly Boggs-Lape, Supen Bowe (Chair), Merry Hamilton and Linda Moulakis
The CCFTF Facilities Subcommittee was charged with developing the parameters for a prospective community center facility that would best fulfill residents needs and desires. This included:
Visiting/reviewing facilities in comparable communities
Assessing the community’s needs and existing amenities and programs
Considering potential locations for a prospective facility
Exploring existing models of public and private partnership opportunities
Members: Yanitza Brongers-Marrero, Greg Comfort (Chair), Wendy Gomez, Chuck Manofsky and Bill Westbrook
The CCFTF Finance Subcommittee was charged with exploring all financial considerations associated with a prospective community center. This included:
Identifying possible sources of capital funding
Identifying possible sources of funding for ongoing operations, programming and maintenance
Consideration of financial business models for facilities in comparable communities
Developing an overarching summary of funding strategy options
Members: Linda Mauger, Brian Perera, Matt Rule (Chair) and Todd Walter
The Task Force determined that the feasibility study process will best be served with the professional assistance of a consultant team experienced in conducting feasibility studies of this nature. The Selection Subcommittee was charged with reviewing and making a recommendation back to the Task Force of the Whole on the preferred consultant. This subcommittee was comprised of Greg Comfort, Nick Lashutka, Linda Mauger, Margie Pizzuti, Matthew Rule and Bill Westbrook.
Subcommittee Schedule:
November 25 City Council Meeting – City Council voted to award the contract to Williams Architects
November 18 Council Conference Session – Task Force representatives presented its recommendation to City Council
November 13 Task Force of the Whole – Task Force voted to recommend Williams Architects to City Council
November 13 – Agenda
November 12 – Agenda, Minutes
October 30 Task Force of the Whole Meeting – Meeting included subcommittee update on selection process
October 16 – Agenda, Minutes
October 1 – Agenda, Minutes
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was issued by the City in early September, with a deadline of September 23
August 27 – Minutes