By Paul Shapiro
The JCC plans to construct a new 50,000-square-foot building on the property that will house the JCC and its programs.
"I think it's very important that our community have a full-service JCC, which services the needs of everyone in the community," said Kenneth Berman, president of the center's board of directors. "I think it will be a place where everyone can come together and enjoy the facility and all the programs we have to offer."
The JCC now operates its programs at 18 different sites throughout the community, including Temple Israel, which houses the JCC's early childhood program. The new facility will allow the JCC to consolidate its operations and programs and will operate independently from the temple.
"Right now, we're the best-kept secret in town," Berman said. "It will make our presence more pronounced. I think the community needs something like this. It will make us an even more important part of the community."
The JCC's plan is for the construction of a state-of-the-art facility to begin in 2009. But even after the new and improved site is complete, the JCC plans to continue holding its programs in other facilities throughout the Five Towns, and is even contemplating some addition sites in order to expand the range of programs.
"We plan to start building sometime in the year 2009, and hopefully it will be completed in the year 2012," Berman explained. "It will be a three-year building project."
While the construction may take three years, the project has been in the works since 2005.
"I'd like to personally thank Rina Shkolnik, executive director of the JCC, for her hard work, and without her this endeavor couldn't have taken place," Berman said. "It would have never come to fruition without her."
The agreement is subject to the approval of the JCC and Temple Israel boards as well as a congregational ratification by the membership of Temple Israel. "There are certain approvals that have to take place. The land has to be subdivided. We're going to be working with the Village of Lawrence for that," said Garrett L. Grey, president of Temple Israel. "The formal contract of sale is going to be drafted shortly. We have finalized the letter of intent, and now the more formal contract will be drafted."
The purchase price of the Temple Israel property has not been disclosed.
"The Temple and the JCC worked together for the past few years to reach this agreement," Grey said. "We are very excited that the JCC's dream of building a full-service community center will be coming to fruition to benefit the entire Five Towns community."
The JCC will continue to house its Early Childhood Center at the temple, as well as adult classes and events in the temple's classrooms. "Allowing us to share the Temple Israel property, a location that is so prominent and well known to many inside and outside of our community, provides us with an ideal cornerstone locations," Berman said. "We all understand the need to provide our community with a state-of-the-art full-service JCC that will serve all members of the Greater Five Towns."
Grey said he thinks the JCC's move into its own full-service facility was a long time coming. "They were just so busting at the seams for more space, and they've been leasing space all over the Five Towns, and this will allow them to have one central facility where they can concentrate their operations," Grey said. "We think that this is a logical next step for the JCC. Others throughout Long Island have been incredibly successful, and we anticipate nothing less from this facility."
The JCC of the Greater Five Towns will join the Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center in Roslyn, the Barry and Florence Friedberg South Shore Y JCC in Oceanside, and the Mid-Island Y JCC in Plainview as the only full-service JCCs on Long Island. The Greater Five Towns JCC will abide by the Sabbath laws and will be closed on all major Jewish holidays.
"We will now offer programs for people who are from 3 months to 90-plus years old as we continue to offer programs for everyone," Berman said. "It's my hope that the community will accept us and offer us all the financial support and support in other ways through involvement in our programs to make this successful. We're hoping for unity in the community."
The facility will offer a full-service sports facility, which will include a swimming pool, a weight room and gymnasium, and an auditorium that can be used as a movie theater. It will also allow for the JCC to run satellite programs for the 92nd Street Y.
"As far as I'm concerned, I think that this will give the Five Towns and the surrounding area a facility which we've deserved and have not had in the past," Berman said. "I hope it will bring the community together and that people of all persuasions will accept it and see the benefits we have to offer and make available to them. I hope that they will take advantage of the programs and become more involved."
Comments about this story? PShapiro@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 201.
