By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great local journalism.
Design work OKd for next center in south
Placeholder Image
Forsyth County News
Forsyth County commission voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve design and construction documents for a second planned recreation center in south Forsyth.

Commissioners accepted the $213,740 bid from Sutton Architectural for blueprints, which will detail the layout of the facility on the Buice property, at Nichols and Old Atlanta roads.

Plans call for an indoor track, two gym floors, classrooms, office area and fitness and weight rooms.

Commissioner Brian Tam was absent.

At the July 2 meeting, the board voted 3-2 to move forward with the funding of this project, as well as a recreation center for Fowler Park, at Hwy. 9 and Castleberry Road. Commissioners Jim Boff and Jim Harrell opposed it.

Funding for both recreation centers was tabled earlier this year.

Prior to the decision to table it, the board awarded $363,300 for the design of the first center to Sutton Architectural on Feb. 19, although the location had yet to be decided.

Because the design of the second recreation center was identical, Sutton gave a discount of about $150,000 on the center approved Tuesday.

Commissioner Patrick Bell thought it was a good deal.

“This saves us $150,000,” he said.

Charles Laughinghouse, who chairs the commission, disagreed.

“It should have saved us a lot more than that, since we’re building two identical facilities,” he said.

Chief Financial Officer Bill Thomas said the $7.5 million Buice center will be paid for through a mix of impact fees, 1-cent sales tax funds and the $100 million parks and recreation bond money.

Thomas said the $6.5 million Fowler center would be funded with money from the parks and recreation bond and parks and recreation impact fees.

E-mail Frank Reddy at frankreddy@forsythnews.com.