| War Memorial nearly complete Jeremy Nash News-Herald.net “They’re (Merit Construction Inc.) through with the major part of the renovations that was part of the clean energy grant that we obtained from the state, so the major part of the renovations are finished,” Steve Harrelson, Lenoir City Parks & Recreation Department director, said. “The only thing is we’re going to go ahead and do some renovations to the restrooms and then we’re going to do a total kitchen renovation also.” Local contractor Tooter Robinette should have restroom renovations completed within two or three weeks, Harrelson said. Renovations cost $5,500. Kitchen work from Merit Construction is free of charge.
Blake Newman,
project superintendent for Merit
Construction, said kitchen work
will include new floor,
cabinets, appliances and paint.
Cabinets are expected to be
shipped by Feb. 20, which will
help complete work by the end of
the month, Newman said.
Other improvements throughout
the building include a sprinkler
system, fire alarm system, new
heating, ventilation and air
conditioning, updated
electrical, refinished gymnasium
floor and energy-efficient light
fixtures and windows.
“We got a clean energy grant
through the state so we needed
to address some utility issues
as far as insulation and the new
windows and do things that help
us with our energy cost here,
but also looking at other things
to renovate as far as electrical
and fire alarm system and things
of that nature,” Harrelson said.
City officials plan to hold a
ribbon-cutting ceremony after
phase two of the downtown
streetscapes project is
complete, which Harrelson said
will include reworking the
sidewalk in front of the
building.
“It was a much needed and worthy
project and I’m excited that as
soon as we have the sidewalks
redone we’re going to have a
rededication down there, and the
governor’s been there twice,”
Mayor Tony Aikens said. “First
time he brought the check and,
of course, he had his meeting
there when he was touring the
state talking about the gasoline
tax, but we hope to certainly
trying to get him to come back
for the rededication. If not,
maybe the Lt. Gov. (Randy)
McNally can come make it.”
Should city officials wish to
use the upstairs portion of the
building, Aikens said an
elevator costing $100,000 would
need to be installed. The
elevator was initially
considered, but was later
scrapped to stay within budget.
“The War Memorial Building’s
always been like a staple of
Lenoir City,” Harrelson said.
“It’s a building that’s familiar
with everyone on Lenoir City
that has lived here for many
years. Our goal is to renovate
the building, use it to bring
more people downtown for
different events and I think
it’s important part of downtown
revitalization. ... I think a
lot of people (are) going to be
pleasantly surprised when they
walk in here and see the
(renovations).”
The building has been open for
public use since Feb. 1 once
most of the work was completed,
Harrelson said, noting groups
like American Legion Post 70,
Little T Squares and even youth
basketball teams are utilizing
the facility.
Aikens would like to see more
use, and has even informed
Allison Sousa, director of The
Venue at Lenoir City, to refer
people eyeing smaller events to
Harrelson to rent the facility.
“It doesn’t cost as much to rent
it,” Aikens said. “But it’s very
— certainly I don’t see anything
wrong with the War Memorial
Building at all and hope the
people would continue to use it
like they’ve done ever since it
was built and it’s just a whole
lot nicer down there than what
it was, and more energy
efficient.”
Harrelson said he hopes to bring
some concerts, whether
well-known musical groups or
even a battle of the bands to
showcase local talent. Plays and
indoor Movies in the Park
showings are also being
considered.
Aikens said “some” stage
lighting would likely need to be
installed.
“I think it’s going to be a good
fit because we can sit 550-600
people in here for a play and
that’s, other than the Venue, by
far the largest facility we can
have for play production,”
Harrelson said. |
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2/22/17