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Hendersonville council asks staff for cost estimates after debate over Whitmire center and 50‑meter pool
Summary
Council reviewed design concepts to rebuild Whitmire Activity Center and to repair or replace Patton Park aquatic facilities, debated whether to pursue a 50‑meter competition pool versus smaller options, and asked staff for refined cost and operational estimates and FEMA submission materials.
Hendersonville officials on Oct. 22 reviewed design concepts for repairing or replacing two park facilities damaged during recent storms and asked staff to return with refined cost estimates and a FEMA submission package.
Staff presented concepts for the Whitmire Activity Center and Patton Park that incorporate flood‑mitigation measures — raising building footprints, shifting structures out of the floodplain and reconfiguring site features. In staff slides, the estimated cost to repair one facility was cited as about $4,300,000 and a replacement scenario as roughly $18,000,000; staff said those numbers are preliminary and that a third‑party estimator and FEMA consultant are working to refine costs.
A central point of debate was programming trade‑offs. The design team said the local shuffleboard group needs 14 courts to host its national events, but fitting 14 shuffleboard courts and a multipurpose community center on the Whitmire site would conflict with flood mitigation and could jeopardize a required no‑rise permit. “They need 14 ports,” the presenter said of the shuffleboard group. Staff and designers proposed keeping a larger flexible indoor space while reducing on‑site court count, or relocating shuffleboard courts to another park — noting moving courts would also require bathrooms and other infrastructure.
Council members disagreed over priorities. Mayor Vogt said a 50‑meter indoor competition pool is not city‑funding appropriate and stated, “I am a definite no on a competition pool.” Other members said a larger pool could serve competitive and recreational swimmers if outside partners (the county, schools or YMCA) help with operating costs; one councilor noted the estimated difference between pool options could be “around $12,000,000.”
Staff told the council the next steps are to provide refined cost estimates for both Whitmire and Patton Park options, assemble a scope and cost letter for FEMA, and explore operational revenue models (including possible sliding‑scale fees and lease arrangements for partner organizations). Council did not approve a final design or funding commitment but expressed a consensus to have staff and the design team proceed to more detailed pricing and to return with estimates before asking the council to approve a design contract.
The design team said it will bring updated estimates and an implementation recommendation back to council; staff indicated Whitmire could return to the council agenda in November if estimates are available.
