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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Neighborhoods Employment Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend November 10, 2006 Central Point gym demolished; city plans for replacement By Paris Achen Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — A city gymnasium next to Central Point Elementary was demolished Wednesday after serving as a center for games, sports and other functions for more than a half a century. The structure — one of the oldest in the city — will likely be replaced with a community center, city officials said. "A gymnasium would be a feature we would want to look at in a community center, but we want to ensure we are building what the community wants," said Katherine Boxer, city parks and recreation director. Eugene-based XL Excavation razed the gym Wednesday and will continue to excavate the site for the next two weeks. The job cost the city about $53,000. A 4-by-4-foot piece of the gym's beloved wood floor was preserved for installation in the community center. Advertisement "We saved that section to try to memorialize the gym and its historic value to the city of Central Point," said Matt Samitore, city development services coordinator. The underside of the flooring was not in good shape, and no volunteers came forward to salvage it," despite calls from the community to preserve it, Samitore said. The city did not have the funds to salvage the entire floor, he said. Feasibility studies of the building in 2002 and 2005 identified peeling lead-based paint, asbestos, dry rot, a structurally weak roof and other seismic problems. "We looked at ways to retrofit the gym, but it was cost-prohibitive," Boxer said. "It would have cost more to retrofit it than to build a new gym." The gym permanently closed Sept. 1. A public forum is planned for the beginning of next year to seek comment from city residents on what features they would like to see in a new community center. An exact date has not yet been set. The city now has about $100,000 available for what is expected to be a project worth several million dollars, Samitore said. The city will likely have to apply for grants, pass a bond measure, or levy a utility tax to fund the project, Boxer said. The Central Point City Council will determine the funding source and timeline for construction, she said. The city bought the gym from the Central Point School District in 2001. A soccer field, skateboard park and city maintenance office also are on the site. Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4459 or e-mail [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing GMAT Prep Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com