From:
Wild Spaces & Public Places <wildspacespublicplaces-gainesvillefl.gov@shared1.ccsend.com>
Date: March 27, 2024 at 10:21:22
Thelma A. Boltin Center Community Update
1. Summary of existing conditions
2. Minimum remediation requirements
3. Additional recommendations
After reviewing the report, Scorpio will submit a proposal to price and prioritize each element of the work. The City of Gainesville will use this itemized list to determine which proposed repairs/renovations can be performed within the available budget. The expectation is that structural repairs, new roofing, mechanical systems and code-required modifications will consume the majority of the available funds.
Roof Repair:
Caused by the failure of a supporting truss, the roof over the Thelma A. Boltin Center’s auditorium stage has been in collapse for several years. The truss failure is what halted work on the 2019 renovation project.
1. The failed truss is repaired
2. Structural integrity of the exterior wall is restored
About the Architects
In over 30 years of operation, Wannemacher Jensen Architects has completed hundreds of projects with historic preservation being a foundational value of the firm. The company’s principal, Lisa Wannemacher, currently serves as the Chair of the St. Petersburg Community Planning & Preservation Commission (the equivalent of Gainesville’s Historic Preservation Board) where she’s been a member since 2014. Lisa will be overseeing the Thelma A. Boltin Center’s restoration.
Projected Timeline
The project’s design phase is anticipated to complete near the end of the 2024. Construction is anticipated to begin in mid-2025 and will take approximately 12-18 months. However, the project requires multiple permits that could affect this timeline.
For more information contact Pete McNiece at mcniecepr@gainesvillefl.gov, or by phone at 352-514-8992.
The Boltin Center is a state heritage site and a contributing building to the National Register district. It is the only building in Florida built by a city for WWII soldiers. It was not a USO. It was a Gainesville Community center. Local women prepared homemade food for the soldiers, families let the soldiers spend the night in their homes, and soldiers danced with local girls.
The Thelma Boltin Center was selected as one of the “11 Buildings to Save” out of around 40 applications received by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. The Friends of the Thelma Boltin Rec. Center, which nominated the building, was asked to apply for a grant that is only available to the 11 to Save Endangered buildings. The City would have had to sign the application since the Friends don’t own the building. We could not apply because as of the grant deadline the City had voted to demolish everything but two walls.
We are requesting that the City rescind their vote to demolish the building and change their vote to restore the building with the understanding that accommodations to meet codes will occur.
Meeting on Thursday, December 7th at 10:00 AM on the first floor of the Gainesville City Hall
The City Commission meeting to discuss the future of the Thelma Boltin Rec. Center has been scheduled for December 7th at 10:00 AM. What could be a more appropriate day to discuss the future of a a building that was constructed for WWII soldiers than Pearl Harbor Day? It will begin at 10:00 AM, and is shown on page 8 of the Agenda, but please get there early as soon after 10:00 AM so you have a place to sit.
We must get at least four City Commissioners to vote to rescind their vote to demolish the building (they voted to leave only two walls standing and call this a “Partial Restoration.”) Please write to all of them to let them know that saving the entire building is important to you. citycomm@gainesvillefl.gov https://www.gainesvillefl.gov/City-Commission
Ed Book has said people writing to him have made it clear that the building should be saved, so he will vote for preservation now. Desmon Duncan Walker and Cynthia Chestnut are on board with saving the building too. Only one more Commissioner is needed to vote to rescind their vote to demolish the building, and the State Heritage Site landmark will be saved.
They have to repair structural problems whether they save the two walls, or the entire building
Originally, it was said that there are too many structural problems. The structural problems are on one small part of the west wall, which is one of two walls they voted to save. The roof problems are only on the west part of the auditorium's roof over the stage. The remainder of the building is no more deteriorated than any other 80-year-old building.
Reasons why the east wing should not be demolished
The 1942 City Commission fought to have the exact building that exists today. They refused to accept the Standard Type D building and wrote to the Federal government that they wanted a building that was designed by local architects, as seen in the City’s resolution to the Federal Government on September 21, 1942. The building was built with the Auditorium and the wing.
The wing has no structural problems. All early photos depict the present east wing. It was never an “Add On” as one member of the Historic Preservation claimed it was. There are no early photos that show the Auditorium directly. The wing was considered the most important part of the building.
Postcards were even made to show the back of the wing, the wing was that significant. The east wing is the part of the building that meant the most to the soldiers and should not be demolished.
In the first paragraph of the November 1st obituary of Phil Barton his daughters wrote that he met his wife at a soldier’s dance as the Thelma Boltin Center. Imagine if he had lived two more years and was present at the ribbon cutting. He would be baffled that half of the building, and the most significant part, had been demolished.
Also, it has been determined that the activity space in the giant new wing is only 1680 SF. However, the activity space in the historic east wing is 1636 SF, to over 2000 SF, depending on how many partitions are opened up. A State Heritage Landmark should not be destroyed to create 44SF of activity space.
Additional Funding
Some City Commission members are worried about cost overruns. The Alachua County Commission voted unanimously to recommend to the City Commission that the building be saved and that it was likely they would contribute another $330,000 for cost overruns. A State historic preservation grant is available of up to $500,000 that can be used for cost overruns too. That will give the City Commission another $830,000 to work with, if needed. Because the building is designated as one of Florida’s Most Endangered buildings it is eligible for an additional small grant. Restoration could take place in stages so it can open to the public as soon as possible.
History Museum
The Friends of the Thelma Boltin Rec, Center hope to create a WWII history museum in the restored building which will also feature Thelma Boltin and the members of the Rock and Roll hall of Fame Members. We are taking pledges for donation in 2025. So far, pledges of $25 up to several thousand have been made.
Donations will not be requested if the building is demolished.
The restored Thelma Boltin Center would join the chain of museums encircling downtown from the Thomas Center to the Matheson to the Cotton Club.
Main Street Daily News https://www.mainstreetdailynews.com/govt-politics/county-asks-gnv-to-reconsider-thelma-boltin-center
Alachua Chronicle Editorials https://alachuachronicle.com/arrington-save-the-thelma-boltin-center/
Gainesville Iguana. https://gainesvilleiguana.org/2023/articles/city-commission-to-vote-on-future-for-historic-center/
Gainesville Iguana https://gainesilleiguana.org/2023/articles/the-significance-of-the-thelma-boltin-recreation-center/
Gainesville Oldtime Dance Society https://groups.google.com/g/gainesville-oldtime-dance-society/c/n0G9lffLN_Q/m/bOziJTdqAQAJ?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer&pli=1
The Friends Thelma Boltin Center are dedicated to perserving the historic Boltin Center. We are friends and neighbors working to see the center will be preserved and continue to fit into the historic neighborhood