Bentleyville Community Center expansion plans moving ahead
Architectural designer William Harvey unveils the proposed floor plans and architectural renderings to the public at Tuesday night’s Bentworth Community Center building project kick-off at the Holiday Inn Express in Bentleyville.
The expanded Bentworth Community Center, as shown in an architectural rendering.
BENTLEYVILLE – Plans for an expanded Bentworth Community Center were the center of attention at a kick-off reception for the project Tuesday night at the Holiday Inn Express in Bentleyville. Now the focus is on raising the remaining money needed to undertake the scaled-back, $1.9 million project.
The reception Tuesday night served as what campaign committee treasurer Bernard Kubitza constituted as a “pep rally.”
“This facility is different compared to all the others around the area,” Kubitza said. “This establishment will serve all age groups in all areas. It is an all-encompassing facility that serves all five municipalities.” The center serves residents of Bentleyville, Cokeburg and Ellsworth along with North Bethlehem and Somerset townships.
Several members of the Bentleyville Public Library board of trustees, which is undertaking the fundraising project, and people involved in the expansion spoke about the continued progress and renovation of the building that currently accommodates the library and Bentworth Senior Center.
“Programs were trampling on one another,” said William Harvey, the architectural designer for the project. “Children were being turned away from learning programs because of the limited space.”
Space will no longer be an issue as planned additions are expected to add another 2,000 square feet to the building. That extra space will expand the library, which has around 21,000 visitors every year, add a larger kitchen to support the Meals on Wheels program that dispenses 75 meals a day and a specialized area for the Bentleyville Area Historical Society.
The other renovations will include a new roof as well as the installation of an elevator to make the building handicapped-accessible.
“We are going to use modern materials to keep operating costs at a minimum. The (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements are just a minimum. Anywhere I could go over those ADA minimums I did,” said Harvey.
The project was scaled back by the architectural firm from the original $3.2 million plan presented in 2013 at the board’s request.
After a recent $50,000 donation made by Chuck and Linda Spadafore, the capital campaign has raised $698,000, more than one-third of the money needed. A majority of that amount came from a $400,000 state grant in 2012.
The allocation of the $1.9 million project was specifically broken down for the public to show where all the money will be used. Most of the costs, $1.4 million, will be for construction. The remaining money is being used for fixtures, equipment and architectural and engineering fees.
Trustees know that the upcoming months will be crucial as they reach out to the communities to try to reach their goal.
They are also planning on sending a mailing to residents of the five municipalities of Bentworth School District and meet with larger corporations in July to promote the project. The board is continuing to look at eight to 10 grants.
The 106-year-old former elementary school on Main Street splits what trustee members call “new” and “old” Bentleyville, with the ultimate goal being to continue to bring life to the area.
“It’s our job to give that part of our Bentleyville community a boost,” said Lisa Stout-Bashioum, honorary co-chairman of the project. “That’s definitely the goal.”