New Bern considering options for Stanley White Rec Center

Sun Journal (New Bern, NC)

May 29-- May 29--The City of New Bern is weighing several options for Stanley White Recreation Center, the 1970s era Duffyfield community landmark that was severely damaged during Hurricane Florence.

MBF Architects recently completed a review and evaluation of the City-owned building, which has remained closed since September. During a presentation before the New Bern Board of Aldermen Tuesday, Tripp Eure with MBF Architects presented cost estimates for three different options for the rec center: Repair the building as is ($1.5 million); demolish the building ($630,000); replace with a new rec center ($7.4 million).

Eure explained that the lowest elevation point of the existing Stanley White Recreation Center is six feet, which would have to be raised to 10 feet to meet the current base flood elevation code. He said should the City choose to rebuild at the current location without elevating the property, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would most likely not cover the construction costs.

"To meet code compliance it would have to be raised. When it was built it in the early 1970s it was compliant but now we have new flood elevations," said Eure.

According to Eure, elevating the rec center would not affect the surrounding properties.

"We'd elevate just the footprint of the building around the edges about four feet and we'd also introduce a number of ramps and steps so it's handicapped accessible. We're just manipulating the heights to get the best accessibility we can to meet codes and requirements," said Eure.

Eure said there were a number of other problems to consider when deciding on a final plan for the rec center. He said his staff had observed masonry stress fractures in the building during a recent inspection, an issue that is like the result of the clay soil beneath it.

"Clay is not conducive to supporting buildings because it expands and contracts when it gets wet. Obviously when you flood a site like the Stanley White Recreation Center, if we were to take (soil sample) borings we expect to find a soil with a very high degree of clay content," said Eure.

One solution, said Eure, would be to put down wood pilings during the rebuilding process.

"I can't conclusively say there's not a situation that might preclude us from rebuilding on that site, but given relatively normal circumstances pilings would take care of that problem," he said.

Alderman Jameesha Harris said she would like to see staff direct a contractor to begin looking at other sites, such as the former Days Inn property, for possible rec center locations.

"I would not want $7.4 million to go back to Stanley White and it look and be what it is when we can give that community more amenities and a bigger, state of the art facility," said Harris.

Alderman Barbara Best said she believed community members had made it clear they would like Stanley White Recreation Center to remain where at its current location.

"What gets done with the money is a policy decision by this board," said Eure. "Once you get the money you'll go through a public process in terms in terms of 'these are our options going forward.'"

The Aldermen stated that no matter where the building is ultimately located, it will retain the Stanley White name.

City Manager Mark Stephens said the City should consider other uses for the rec center as well when deciding on a final location for the building.

"The ground elevation around Stanley White is about 4.5 feet. If we were to use it as a storm shelter we would be delivering people there in boats," he commented.

Corey Spaulding, project manager with Disaster Recovery Services, said the majority of the Stanley White Recreation Project would be funded through FEMA mitigation money. He said the City has applied for mitigation funds for the rec center and other city-owned properties damaged in the storm. He estimated FEMA would make a decision on the amount the City would receive within six months.

Spaulding said the City's National Flood Insurance carrier has paid $346,000 out of a $500,000 claim while the City's a second insurance carrier has paid out a $250,000 advance and an additional $300,000 advance has been requested.

Spaulding admitted frustration over the slow rollout of the insurance payments.

"The frustrating part is we feel this should have been a no-brainer and they should have just paid the policy limits by now because it's obvious they're going to have to, and we don't know why they haven't," he commented.

Spaulding said a meeting was scheduled for Thursday to try and expedite insurance payments for the city-owned properties damaged in Hurricane Florence.

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