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The City of Beavercreek plans to start renovations on a $1.5 million development project in the fall that will convert four storefronts in the Lofino’s Plaza into spaces that will be used for the city and the community.
The storefronts will be converted to areas that will be used for parks and recreation offices, programs and an area that can be used for community meetings. The renovation will also allow the senior fitness center to expand, according to city staff.
The city made plans for the space after surveying community members and completing a needs assessment last year.
One of the biggest things people wanted was a public space to use for meetings, said Kim Farrell, the city parks superintendent. Some sports and non-profit organizations in the area do not a place to hold their meetings.
“This will be a place they can afford.”
Farrell said the city has not decided whether it will charge a fee for using the meeting space.
The renovations will be funded with revenues generated from a 0.9-mill levy park and senior center levy approved by voters in 2014. The levy annually generates an estimated $1.1 million.
“It’s money that we’ve already told the community, as part of that park levy here’s one of the things we would like to do,” Farrell said. “They voted yes, and so we’re able to move forward. It’s not general fund dollars.”
According to city documents final drawings for the space could be available in May, construction would start in October and the facility could be ready for occupancy in 2017.
The city-owned Charles and Anna Mae Lofino Senior Adult and Cultural Enrichment Center opened in 2005. The Lofino family donated the storefronts, adjacent to and attached to the senior center, to the city in 2011. As part of the donation, the city agreed to develop the buildings so they would benefit the community.
Beavercreek Mayor Bob Stone has been involved with the re-development of the plaza since the Lofino family donated the property, he said.
“To finish this out will be a fantastic accomplishment for the city and the volunteers that worked for so many years to put it together,” Stone said.
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