Winter News from GGCC

Hello and happy winter solstice from us to you! It has been far too long since we’ve had some big news to share about the community center, and no one is as excited as we are to be able to break that streak with this seasonal update. Last time we were in your inbox, we mentioned that we had started the process of exploring different approaches for securing the building’s exterior walls, as the vertical concrete work in the original plans was too difficult (read: impossible) to attract a contractor within the budget we have funds for. The alternative approach that came out of that process has put us on the fast track. It's paved the way for us to not only find contractors willing to do the work, but also announce the timeline that the building will finally be closing for demolition ahead of the long-awaited stabilization work.

Those who’ve been following this saga since we took ownership of the building over 10 years ago will know that this is a HUGE milestone, and one that has eluded us for so long despite having about $1 million committed to this phase, and no shortage of enthusiasm for the building’s restoration from funders who’ve expressed interest in supporting subsequent stages of the project if we could just get past this foundational, if unsexy, step. Finally, after years of pushing this Sisyphean boulder uphill, we are in a position to draw down the funds we have, and move the needle on stabilizing the building. So, when will this all start? We will be closing the building–both the upstairs and the gym–after December 31, and will use the first two weeks of January to clear the place out for contractors and start demolition after January 15. Our goal is to complete the most disruptive part of this stabilization work, the replacement of the roof, before the busy season. We won’t know fully how long the building will need to be closed until contractors are onsite and plugging away. We hope to have more clarity to share around that in time for our spring newsletter in March.

Something that we had hoped from the outset would not be affected by the stabilization work was access to the gym. That is, we had hoped that when it came time to shore up the exterior walls, we could just move equipment away from the interior walls, allowing gym users continued access to everything downstairs, just in slightly tighter quarters. Unfortunately, going through the building with new engineering plans and fresh eyes brought to our attention that the floor downstairs is not strong enough to safely support the weight of all the equipment if we move it toward the center of the floor. So a big development with the gym is that it will have a temporary home at Juniper Studio (aka, Bill and Loretta Chapman’s old place behind the Super 8) for 2026.

Keeping with our tradition of giving thanks and kudos in this newsletter, we have some of those to go around related to the gym. Thanks goes out first and foremost to Stacey from the Wonderland for offering up Juniper Studio as a temporary location for the gym (thank you, neighbor!). What a purpose to add to that Gardiner institution’s long and creative history! A very big and special thanks also goes out to Clay Willis, who approached an understandably impassioned conversation about the plan for the gym with leadership and a mindset of problem-solving and future-thinking. We spent the better part of a very well-attended December Advisory Board meeting with several community members (including long-time Gardinerites who are also gym users) discussing where we’re at with the building and fleshing out plans for moving the gym to its temporary home for the next year. Clay noted the gym has grown from very humble beginnings in a much smaller space. When it can return to its permanent home in the community center, it will get yet another upgrade, with not just sturdier floors and walls (walls with insulation, in fact!), but also more square footage than the current usable space. For the immediate term though, gym equipment will be migrating across town on January 2 to ensure folks have uninterrupted access to a critical resource for our community’s overall wellbeing. The goal is to have the gym up and running in its temporary home January 3. If you have the time and inclination to help with that process, get in touch with us so we can add your name to the list of gym moving party helpers for Clay. You can also get in touch with us (if you haven’t already) if you want to be part of any "pre-demolition" demo activities for the building. Many hands make light(ish) work for moving gym equipment and cost-savings if we can reduce the demo work left for contractors to do.

—Dennis McIntosh, GGCC President

Happening (before we close!) at the Community Center

Yoga with Jaclyn McIlwain // Mondays, 6:15-7:30 PM through December 🧘‍♀️

Weekly yoga with Jaclyn McIlwain is back for a few more weeks! This donation-based class meets Mondays through the end of December at the community center, and all experience levels are welcome. Limited mats and props are available, so bring your own mat, blocks, and blanket if you have them.

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Get Involved

Donate to the Restoration Project 🎁

Help us keep the Gardiner Community Center standing for another 100 years with a donation of any amount. We're excited to launch the next leg of the journey in this building's restoration, and gifts of every size have an impact and show us that you want this gathering place to continue serving our community. Visit our campaign page to make a gift online today or send us a donation by mail to the address in our footer.

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Volunteer With Us 🙌

If you have a love for sustaining a sense of community and working on projects that move civic interests forward and enhance the quality of life for all residents, consider volunteering with us! We love to hear from folks who are as passionate as we are about supporting our unique community with their time and talent. Get in touch if you'd like to join us for an upcoming meeting or pitch in on a project!

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