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$7.9 million for Wellness Center renovation? Not now

Rick Monroe

Special to the Village News

The estimated cost for renovation of the Health and Wellness Center property is $7.9 million according to the design company's presentation to directors of the Fallbrook Regional Health District at a virtual special board meeting on March 11.

However, that amount will not be what directors will approve, at least not initially. Instead, they decided to improve the property in phases.

The board voted at the conclusion of the workshop to contract with Taylor Design to start the pre-design phase of development of the Health and Wellness Center. Directors decided that the first phase would be on the site grounds and the sanctuary and fellowship hall buildings.

The property, located at 1636 E. Mission Road, is a former church site bought by the district to provide community services. It is operating now with classes and limited special events.

Rachel Mason, CEO of the district, said the $7.9 million estimate was to do everything the district discussed in previous planning meetings as a "dream center." The price will decrease – or possibly increase – depending on choices the directors determine at future meetings.

Joe Lowe of Taylor Design said the $7.9 million would include the cost to renovate all four existing buildings and the redesign of the property to include new outdoor event space (pavilion), overflow parking, meditation garden, children's play area, walking and exercise trails, new covered walkway to connect Buildings 1 and 2 with Building 3, landscaped areas and two parking lots.

Buildings 1 and 2 are the sanctuary and fellowship building, respectively. The other buildings are classrooms (Building 3) and a residence.

After Lowe's initial presentation, Howard Salmon, chair, asked for comments from the directors. Director Jennifer Jeffries was first to speak and said the project should be built in phases, "as green as possible," citing the need for solar power. Jeffries also said all spaces should be multi-use.

Jeffries said that transforming the sanctuary to a conference center should include state-of-the-art sound and presentation technology. The exterior should be aesthetically pleasing, and the outside should be treated as a room with inviting spaces, a walking path or par course and a useful pavilion area. She also wanted to see a cohesive entry statement. She added that thought should also be put into storage sheds.

Other board members agreed, saying the existing classrooms and residence can continue to function as currently. Salmon estimated that 60% to 70% of the planned programs in classrooms could work with the current classrooms.

Lowe said the project could be done in phases but indicated it would be helpful to have a dollar amount identified for the initial phase, but the board wasn't prepared to make a commitment. Mason replied that it was a "chicken or egg conversation" and proposed a compromise to pay Taylor Design on an hourly or contract basis for developing a pre-design phase plan.

"Once we get a new proposal for this part of the project it will go back in front of the board," Mason said after the meeting.

After the workshop concluded and the designer signed off the video meeting, Mason reviewed budget considerations with the directors. She explained that the district had $7.7 million in existing investments set aside for major projects. However, subtracting $1.6 million for 18 months in reserve, that means the total resources available are $6.1 million.

Mason also noted that there would be additional expenses to the $7.9 million estimated for construction. Those numbers were $965,946 for Taylor Design, $237,172 for construction management, and $150,000 for legal services. That would expand the estimated development price to $9.3 million. She also pointed out that existing expenses for staffing and programs are $500,000.

Additional funds could come from grants and the recently formed FRHD Foundation.

 

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