Plans on Track for New Neighborhood Club

Plans continue for the joint health and wellness center slated to break ground later this year at the current location of the Neighborhood Club at Waterloo and St. Clair streets in the .

The joint venture between the Neighborhood Club and has been in the works for nearly three years. The current Neighborhood Club building is slated for demolition sometime in August as the groundbreaking for the new two-story building is slated for September, said Sean Bruce, interim executive director said.

This week the City of Grosse Pointe council tabled two requests by the Neighborhood Club concerning the plans. The club asked for the council's approval of the site plans and for a permit for the building as it will exceed 5,000, square feet—an amount required for council's advance approval.

City Manager Peter Dame said the plans were very well received by the council as well as those in attendance of the meeting and the decisions were tabled to ensure a few minor details are addressed. City Clerk Julie Arthurs said the issues are related to signage, landscaping and parking.

Both said the plans and permit are expected to be passed by the council's next meeting on June 20, if not earlier in a special meeting. 

The two-story, 39,743-square-foot building will house a warm-water pool, a gym, a fitness area and an aerobics room, the Neighborhood Club's nursery school and offices. Beaumont will have an adult physical therapy area as well as the Children's Integrated Development Center, Bruce said. 

Enhancing the community has always been the goal for the Neighborhood Club, which offers a variety of community classes, athletics and other activities, Bruce said. This project has been a long-term plan for the organization and will create a more active environment, Bruce said, noting their current location is more passive and doesn't allow as much in-house activity. 

The Neighborhood Club will continue to offer all of its normal programming during and after construction of the new building, Bruce said. 

Dame said this project is exactly the kind of development the city looks for and is very supportive in trying to help it move forward.

The city parking lot behind the Neighborhood Club is also slated to be resurfaced and reconfigured this year as well. Officials from both sides are working together to have all of the projects completed at once. Officials said they are also planning the parking arrangements together to create the most user-friendly environment.

The Neighborhood Club is relocating its offices and nursery school to while the Services for Older Citizens offices are moving the near the .

Officials are still trying to find a location for the , Bruce said. The move will be gradual over June and July, he said. The nursery school is holding an open house in June so parents can see the interim location and setup, he said.