NSB James Center work to fit streetscape

The Babe James Center on Washington Street in New Smyrna Beach is due for renovation. The top image is a picture of what it looks like now, at bottom is a rendering of plans to expand and paint the building to blend in with the new streetscape.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH The Alonzo Babe James Community Center, a fixture in the citys Historic Westside neighborhood for a decade, is about to undergo renovations that will include a 1,646-square-foot addition and a new paint scheme.

The new red and grayish design was inspired by the banners that dot Washington Street, Jay Pendergast, architect for the Babe James Center project, told city leaders last week.

Theyve made a huge improvement to the street so it was suggested that we start to bring that theme into the new Babe James Center, Pendergast said. So thats what weve done that with the colors that were using on the front of the new building.

The addition includes a covered building entrance, reception waiting area, separate offices for youth and family services, a conference area and two computer rooms. The remodeling of the existing building includes expanding the multipurpose room to seat more people, new porcelain tile, revamped restrooms and kitchen and a new art room.

Basically for us what the expansion will do will make a bigger center for cultural and art events, said Donna Gray Banks, the citys community resources coordinator, whose office is in the Babe James Center, said Friday. It will fit approximately 250 people comfortably for weddings and pastoral events and community events.

In addition to an after-school program, the center is home to classes such as Tech Bridge, where people ages 16-21 learn how to make resumes, perform mock job interviews and prepare to take the General Educational Development test. Daytona State College also holds a GED class at the center, Gray Banks said. The New Smyrna Beach Police Athletic League also provides a number of programs for children there.

The new building also has a much larger entrance where people can wait and pick up their kids, Pendergast told commissioners.

City commissioners last year reallocated $450,000 that was originally set aside for a business incubator on Washington Street for the Babe James renovation. An additional $200,000 has also been appropriated for possible additions to the design that could include a new sound system for the multipurpose room and gym, and new air conditioning system for the gym.

The project could be put out to bid next month. When construction begins, city officials say they will look at temporary locations to host the programs normally held at the Babe James Center. Possibilities include the Minerva Civic Center or leasing portables and placing them at Pettis Park.

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NSB James Center work to fit streetscape