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Council approves larger federal grant and phases Central High School rehab into community center
Summary
The Newton City Council approved an amendment to a 2022 Community Development Block Grant to phase rehabilitation of Central High School into a two-stage project and requested an additional $3.9 million to cover rising construction costs; residents urged more daytime programming and accessibility features.
Ben Willis, Community and Economic Development Director with the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, told the Newton City Council that a 2022 Community Development Block Grant award intended to rehabilitate Central High School will be split into two phases and requires additional funding. "These funds will be used to rehabilitate the Central High School to transform it into a community center," Willis said, and the amendment requests an additional $3,900,100 to address higher-than-anticipated material and construction costs.
Under the revised scope, Phase 1 will focus on the gym building, including renovated restrooms, a new vestibule, conversion of a boiler/storage room into a Hall of Fame, site work, improved accessibility for people with disabilities, and parking and grading corrections. Willis said the current award amount would cover Phase 1 improvements, while Phase 2 would address the original classroom building with a gut renovation to create program spaces and further accessibility upgrades.
During the public hearing, residents pressed council members on programming, staffing and amenities. "It should be the heartbeat of the community, but it's empty," said Joe Famiglietti, a resident with young children, urging more daytime activities and clearer staffing plans. Local resident Polly Pearson asked whether the renovation will include showers in the gym restrooms; City Manager Sean Hovis answered, "As of now, there are no showers," and said architects' plans were expected to be signed and put on paper imminently.
Council Member Beverly Danner asked about the project timeline and the city’s share of funding; Willis confirmed the city can request a time extension beyond the current 30 months and said the strategy is to use as much grant funding as possible before tapping city funds. After public comment and discussion, Council Member Jody Dixon moved and Council Member Ed Sain seconded approval of the amendment; the motion passed unanimously.
The amendment changes the project's scope and formally phases construction so the city can proceed with immediate gym renovations while planning a later classroom-building renovation. Council directed staff to continue coordinating with the architect and to provide additional cost quotes to the public clerk as requested.
