Council approves RFQ, moves Adult Recreation Center services to 107 South Broad

Gastonia City Council voted to seek private developers for parcels adjacent to 107 South Broad Street and to relocate the city’s Adult Recreation Center (ARC) services from the Franklin Boulevard armory to the city‑owned facility at 107 S. Broad.

Councilwoman Danielle Barber, chair of the Facilities Management Committee, told the council the committee voted 3–0 to recommend issuing a request for qualifications (RFQ) for redevelopment of 101, 107, 115 and 117 S. Broad. The full council approved that RFQ 5–1. The council later voted 5–1 to approve a phased renovation and to move ARC programming into 107 S. Broad.

The move follows an independent condition assessment of the existing ARC. The study, presented to the committee, listed options and estimated costs: repair and indoor remediation at roughly $2.1 million; demolition and site grading at about $325,000; conversion to apartments at about $12 million; and an office conversion at about $12.8 million. Parks and Recreation staff said asbestos, lead paint and major roof work were identified in the assessment.

City staff described 107 S. Broad as a 16,400‑square‑foot steel building on about 1.56 acres, with additional adjacent city‑owned parcels and about 34 existing accessible parking spaces. Under the proposal, the council would proceed in phases: - Phase 1A: technology and infrastructure work, fitness room furniture, fixtures and equipment and parking lot sealing/restriping to maximize spaces; estimated immediate work already completed includes some floor and ceiling tile replacement, roofing repair and cleaning (about $25,000 spent to date). - Phase 1B: windows, doors and flooring replacement (staff proposed Community Development Block Grant funds). - Phase 2: larger improvements such as a digital entertainment room and a golf simulator to be pursued after accreditation or grant funding.

Parks staff said programming currently offered at the ARC — monthly dances, bingo, ceramics and beginner pickleball among others — would continue. Staff said some activities that require higher clearances (certain indoor sports) would be scheduled at Bradley Community Center and other sites; staff pledged to protect senior programming times at those sites so the relocations would not interrupt existing senior schedules.

Economic development staff and parks staff noted that including 107 and the three adjacent lots in an RFQ is intended to attract public‑private partnerships that could add complementary uses (for example, senior housing with shared parking) while preserving ARC functions.

Council members pressed staff on several implementation details, including which programs would move immediately, how many current ARC staff positions would be preserved (staff said no positions would be eliminated), parking and ADA access, kitchen equipment to be moved from the ARC to 107 and the timeline for phased work. Staff said a formal RFQ is ready and that phase 1A work could be completed later this year if the council approves moving forward.

The council directed staff to move ahead with the RFQ and the phased relocation; additional design and funding votes related to the ARC site and the current ARC property (including potential redevelopment options) will return to the Facilities Management Committee and the council for separate approval.

Ending: The council approved both the RFQ for redevelopment around 107 S. Broad and the renovation/move of ARC services in separate votes. Staff will solicit developer proposals, finalize the phased renovation plan and return with implementation details and funding requests as needed.