Bluff-top Community Center Getting a New Lease on Life
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7/24/09 - It may be aging and decrepit, but the Fletcher Cove Community Center still commands one of the best locations on the San Diego coastline. Perched above a popular new seaside park and blessed with panoramic ocean views, this one-acre site is a perfect gathering spot for small community meetings, classes and civic events.
But use of the facility has been limited in recent years by the deteriorating conditions of the building – a WWII army barracks that was moved to this bluff-top location decades ago.
Now the City is developing plans to remodel the structure and upgrade the surrounding area with new walkways, overlooks and landscaping. Guided by input from public workshops and geotechnical reports, the City is advancing a conceptual plan that was presented at the July 8 Council meeting.
Green and Scenic
While the basic size and footprint of the Community Center will not change, the renovation will incorporate several new “green building” features to make it more functional and energy-efficient.
Solana Beach architect Steve Dalton volunteered his time and expertise to develop conceptual plans for the project, and he believes it can earn a “gold” certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
“One of our goals is to showcase sustainable strategies that can serve as a model for future development in the community. To do this, we're trying to incorporate those elements that are simplest to achieve and carry the largest pay-back for the least cost,” said Dalton. “The passive strategies for heating, cooling and daylighting represent the "low hanging fruit" that are easy to achieve without a lot of effort.”
That includes the use of natural ventilation (to catch ocean breezes) and daylighting (more doors and windows on the south and west sides) as well as new photovoltaic panels, recycled insulation, and a rainwater collection system for irrigation of small areas near the building. The result will be a much brighter, more open building that capitalizes on its ocean views and outdoor spaces.
Although the building’s design is “sustainable,” its location is not. The eroding bluffs are just a stone’s throw away from the Center and, like sands through the hourglass, they limit the lifespan of this location to just 50 or 75 more years. Accordingly, the City has opted to upgrade the existing structure instead of building a newer, larger facility.
In fact, many of the improvements -- handicapped parking, new bathrooms and gently sloping pathways -- are strictly for the purpose of making the facility more accessible and ADA-compliant.
A Community Chest
Dalton isn’t the only local expert donating time to this project. Mayor Mike Nichols, a landscape architect who worked on the Fletcher Cove Park project, is also consulting on the design of the grounds, which will feature more usable areas adjacent to the building.
A citizens’ committee has been formed to help with public outreach and fundraising efforts, supplementing the City’s budget with private donations. Peter House, John Chamberlain and Brian Pruden will establish The Solana Beach Foundation for that purpose.
One group of citizens, the Solana Beach Civic & Historical Society, has been especially active in rallying support for the renovation.
“The Civic & Historical Society originally bought and moved the old barracks to the blufftop as a gift to the community, and it’s been the traditional venue for our meetings and activities ever since,” said current Society president Judy Hegenauer.
“Until it started falling apart, the building was a very popular place to hold public meetings and community events, especially at sunset. We’ve energized the City along with a large number of community volunteers to polish up this local gem and put the location on an equal footing with the beautiful new Fletcher Cove Park … and it will be accessible to all.”
After further environmental review of the project plans, final designs are expected to come before the City Council this fall or winter, followed by a California Coastal Commission review.
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