 |
|
|
|
|
Council-Watch
City's gym placed on hold until site-search can be done
Shirakawa says Little Leaguers should have dibs on South SJ site
By Jessica Lyons
City Council action regarding the planning of a new indoor-court sports facility has been temporarily placed on hold as city and county officials discuss where to house the proposed gym.
"We're a large city, we could use an indoor sports facility," says District 7 Councilmember George Shirakawa Jr. "The studies show there is a need, and we're always looking for more gym space for junior basketball and adult leagues."
But while Shirakawa is pushing for the development of the sports facility, he is not recommending that it be built on the city-owned land in his district--most gym-boosters' preferred site for the facility.
"Other uses are more of a priority for us," he says, citing a Little League field and a library as top priorities for the four acres near the southwest corner of Tully Road and Kenoga Drive.
Action has been deferred to discuss the location of the proposed facility. On December 16, 1997, the City Council approved the land near Tully Road as the preferred site. But according to Shirakawa, now that the county is involved, the fairgrounds are also being considered as a possible site for the indoor courts.
Shirakawa says he hopes to present the project to the City Council for approval later this month.
The original staff recommendation to use city-owned land for a privately developed and owned indoor-court sports facility was approved by the City Council in October '97. If the council gives the go-ahead to the project, a private firm will be selected to finance, construct and operate the 60,000-square-foot sports facility.
Senior Deputy City Manager Darrell Dearborn says the facility will be used primarily for basketball and volleyball, but that a gymnastics area is also a possibility. Depending on the design, the sports center will hold between six and 10 courts, along with office space and a lounge area.
It's too early to estimate a ball-park figure for the cost of the building, Dearborn adds. The design will largely determine the price tag.
Considering San Jose's limited indoor courts, a city-owned sports facility is in high demand, says Terry Eberhardt, deputy director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services.
"The gyms we own and operate ourselves are the Camden Lifetime Activities Center and half a gym at the Solari Community Center--otherwise we use school facilities," Eberhardt says. "We have very limited sports facilities and there is a definite need. It would be a very good opportunity for the residents of San Jose, both youth and adults."
|
|
|
|
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
