THE COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT

A Case for Our Future

The East End is a unique community. Generations of residents, both year-round and summer, have lived in the quiet simplicity of our coastal towns. The charm of the East End comes not only from its beautiful location, but from its sense of community. With that comes the opportunity to work together to enhance our future.

We work together, play together, grow together - now it is time to build together!

East End residents and visitors alike are a lucky group. Our communities are small, close-knit, safe…and outdoor recreational possibilities abound. What our community lacks, however, is an environment for indoor recreation and cultural activities. The Montauk Playhouse Community Center is changing that.

With the restoration of the historic Montauk Playhouse and interior build-out of the Human Services Center and Gymnasium complete, the Montauk Playhouse Community Center Foundation is focusing its efforts on raising money for future building phases at the site. Future plans call for the inclusion of an aquatics center, a performing arts center with a glass-roofed lobby, and community rooms with original 1920s fireplaces.

The completed Montauk Playhouse Community Center will be the social and cultural centerpiece of Montauk. As planned, the center will be a community-wide public/private partnership - funding will come from both the public and private sectors. The center will produce jobs and will provide sorely needed services and facilities for the entire East End community, including both our year-round and seasonal residents.

Phase I Construction
In 2003, the East Hampton Town Board decided to save the building and turn it into a community center. Initial cleanup and restoration of the building, which began in Fall 2004, along with the inclusion of the Human Services and Recreation Centers, was completed in the First Phase of construction. The facility opened to the public in April 2006.

The Human Services Center includes

~ a child day care center that can accommodate up to 60 children between the ages of 6 weeks and 4 years;
~ a senior nutrition center that can serve up to 60 seniors daily;
~ an adult day care center that can accommodate 10 adults with special needs; and

the Recreation Center includes

~ a high-school regulation-sized gymnasium
~ locker rooms,
~ fitness center and physical therapy office (open July 1, 2006), and
~ storage and office space.

Addition Phase I improvements include a glass roof bay reminiscent of the original Carl Fisher design (the glass roof will eventually be the focal point of the atrium lobby of the performing arts center).

All of the above facilities and services (including the Recreation Center) are located in roughly half of the building. Additional facilities, including aquatics and performing arts centers, and community lounges, would be completed in future phases with grants and funds raised by the MPCCF and the community.

Bill Schlumpf of Island Structures Engineering has been working with the Town of East Hampton since 2002 to develop the final architectural plans for and to oversee construction at the building.

Construction Costs and Funding
Phase I construction cost approximately $7 million. The Town of East Hampton bonded for most of this amount to refurbish the Montauk Playhouse and locate a Human Services Center and Recreation Center within roughly half of the building. Supplementary funding comes from a $350,000 grant awarded to the Town of East Hampton by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for the initial restoration of the structure, and monies raised by the Montauk Playhouse Community Center Foundation (MPCCF).

MPCCF plans to match the Town's commitment to the project by raising an additional $7 million toward the Aquatics and Performing Arts Centers and community lounges, which will be built in the second half of the building. MPCCF is actively seeking grants and is in the midst of a capital campaign to raise these funds.

Management and Operating Expenses
Members of the Town-appointed Board of Managers, which is made up of representatives from the MPCCF Board of Directors, AARP, Montauk School, East Hampton Town, and the community, meet regularly to discuss and implement plans for the operation and management of the building.

Each facility within the building is run as its own entity - the nonprofit Montauk Community Senior Nutrition Center operates the Senior Nutrition Center; the Economic Opportunity Council is under contract with the Town to run the Child Day Care Center; the Adult Day Care Program is managed by the Town of East Hampton; building staff will manage use of the Gymnasium; and the Town has recently awarded contracts for the management of the fitness center and physical therapy offices. Management, operating, and maintenance expenses are budgeted for in the Town's budget.

Phase II
Plans for Phase II construction include a Performing Arts Center, an Aquatics Center, and 2 community lounges with original Carl-Fisher era fireplaces. MPCCF plans to match the Town of East Hampton's $7 million commitment to the project by raising an additional $7 million toward Phase II. To reach its goal, MPCCF is in the midst of a building campaign and holds fundraisers throughout the year. MPCCF is also actively seeking donations and grant funding from individuals, foundations and corporations.

As part of its commitment to Phase II, MPCCF has also taken on the responsibility of developing sustainable models for the Performing Arts and Aquatics Centers. Separate committees for each center are working to develop management, operating and marketing plans to ensure the future success of each facility, and are, at the same time, working with Bill Schlumpf of Island Structures Engineering to fine-tune each facility's architectural plans. Currently, the Theater Committee has been interviewing theater-design consultants, who will work closely with the Committee and Island Structures Engineering on the overall design of the facility.

A Bright Future
MPCCF is working with Marc Saffren of m3 Development, a nonprofit consultant, as part of its capital building campaign and in developing yearly giving programs to raise funds for Phase II facilities. MPCCF continues to reach out to individuals, corporations, foundations, civic and service groups and public agencies through presentations, direct contact, grant applications and other means to cultivate support for the entire community center project.

The dream of the Montauk Playhouse Community Center is in the hands of the entire community. Together, we are making the dream a reality. In so doing, we are leaving a legacy that will be enjoyed for generations.