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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS Civic Center recent additionextras The Battalion August 30,1982 f CS civic center recent addition by Rebeca Zimmermann Battalion Staff Take a stroll into the un- marked building at the corner of Jersey and Holik Streets with the sharply angled walls. You might be pleasantly sur- prised. After you climb the winding stairs and enter the building, you find a corridor with a high, arched ceiling. The corridor is lined with paintings. This is the exhibit gallery of the new College Station Com- munity Center, which officially opened June 13. "It's the first time in College Station's history that we have had a facility to use," said Peggy Calliham, director of the Col- lege Station Community Center. The center features six meet- ing rooms, a kitchen, two patios and a multi-purpose room. The meeting rooms are large enough for 30 to 70 people. The multi-purpose room seats 200 people, and for a reception it has room for 420 people. This room contains a microphone, a podium and a piano. Portable chalkboards are available, and cabinet space may be rented by various community groups. The center also has a gallery which now houses the municipal art collection. Calliham said space in the gallery may be re- sted by exhibitors. One meeting room opens out onto a patio; landscaping will be added to the center's patios in the fall. A kitchen is equipped with two refrigerators, an ice machine and a microwave oven. Groups orclubs that wouldn't ordinarily have their own build- ing are welcome to use the cen- ter, Callilianr said. A wide spec- trum of the community has the opportunity to use the facility. "I'd like to have the members of thecommunity stop by and let us give them a tour of the facil- ity, she said. Calliham said the facility would be ideal for gatherings befire and after football games. gees to use the center are based on what type of organiza- tion is renting space and what activities will be held. 'there is one rate for non- profit clubs, another for political Groups or clubs that wouldn't ordinarily have their own building are welcome to use the center. A wide spectrum of the community has the opportunity to use the facility. groups and a higher rate for commercial organization. Calliham said the rates are reasonable, especially for non- profit organizations. The com- merdal rates are comparable to rates charged by hotels for rooms. The multi-purpose meeting room has a different fee scale; for social events it is based on the number of people attending the event. A set rate based on what type of organization uses the facility is charged for meetings. A deposit is required of any group reserving space; this de- posit is refundable if no damage has been done to the reserved room. An additional charge is made if a group plans to have food or alcohol in the center. A kitchen use fee is charged if a caterer needs to use the facilities for a reception. If a group of more than 100 people plans to have alcohol at a gathering, a police- man must be hired, Calliham said. Room reservations are for a half dav, and scheduling is done up to six months in advance. The community center build- ing was originally the first A&M Consolidated High School. Cal- liham said the city owned land near the current high school site, and traded that land to the College Station Independent School District in return for the center's site. Funds for the building and operating of the community center came from the city's tax on hotels and motels. Use of this tax is limited to tourist-related functions and community cen- ters. So, a community center for College Station was built with the funds. The $I million worth of re- novations and additions trans- formed the former school build- ing into a useful community center. Calliham said church groups were the first to make use of the facility. She said 10 to 15 groups meet at the center per week. Two or three commercial group meetings also have been con- ducted at the center. "We expect use to increase as people become aware of the cen- ter;" Calliham said. Exhibits and health and career fairs may be future events at the center, she said. Seven College Station citizens and one city councilman serve on an advisory board to the cen- ter. "the board members, appointed by the city council, lis- ten to suggestions or complaints from community members. In this way, the board acts as a liaison between the city council and members of the community. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and for scheduled meetings. Peggy Callaham, left, some of the paintings S;~tion Community and Sherry Albrecht inspect on display at the College Center. Callaham is the staff photo by David Fisher director of the center; Albrecht, who is the energy management coordinator for College Station, has her office in the building.