Plymouth Creek Center Preliminary Design Plans Approved
The Plymouth City Council took a significant step Tuesday night in moving the Plymouth Creek Center expansion project forward. However, council members were divided on the project.
The city council approved preliminary design plans to renovate and expand the Plymouth Creek Center. The vote was 4-3. The center is 20 years old and city surveys show significant support for the project.
The makeover would include adding at least two gyms, a walking track and an indoor play area that would be unique to the area. It would increase the space by about 80,000 square feet, more than tripling the size of the existing space. The current space is 30,000 square feet.
The preliminary cost is about $51.6 million. For the median value home of $350,000 in Plymouth, it would add $6.30 a month in city property taxes under the current proposed scenario. The expense could increase due to support for an additional gym.
courtesy HGA Architects
Courtesy HGA Architects
Cost Concerns
City council members who voted no were concerned the cost could go higher.
“There are residents that think this project is far too big. There are residents who think this project is not nearly big enough, and everything in between,” said Plymouth City Council Member Nick Roehl. “Our job on the council is to find that balance point, or as one resident said ‘sweet spot in the middle.’ I think that sweet spot in the middle was left behind when this project went from $30 million to $51.6.”
There were also concerns about whether city government should be involved in this kind of service. Plymouth Mayor Jeffry Wosje responded to those concerns.
“We can decide that this should be private enterprise, the city shouldn’t be involved with that. But guess what, every other city has decided they’re going to be,” said Mayor Wosje. “So we either understand what other services other cities are providing, or we decide to ignore it.”
Council members Ned Carroll, Jim Willis, Jim Davis and Mayor Wosje voted for approval of the preliminary design. Council members Jim Prom, Alise McGregor and Nick Roehl voted no.
