Work begins at Joyner community center

Senior center renovations to begin in late May, early June

Barnhill Construction Company is removing several trees just north of the visitor parking lot, the first step in the construction of the Joyner Park Community Center.

Walking trails near the construction site have been closed out of concern for public safety. No trespassing signs have been put up, and officials are strongly urging park visitors to obey the signs and avoid the construction area.

The new community center, due to be completed in 2019, will have 32,000 square feet with a  walking track, a gymnasium for basketball, volleyball and pickleball, multi-purpose rooms, a dance studio and a kitchen. The building will reflect the park’s natural beauty and rustic feel.

In March Jamie D. Massengill, the senior project manager for Barnhill, gave the town a guaranteed contract price of $11.7 million and the commissioners approved the contract at that price. The letter accompanying the presentation during the town board’s March meeting said, “We have conducted a thorough scope review with each of the apparent low bid contractors (surveying, steel, roofing, drywall, etc.). We reviewed the total value of Minority Business participation in all bids received and are pleased to note that this proposal for this GMP includes 26.99 percent Minority Participation.)

The town had estimated the cost at $11.1 million at first but later estimates were at $13 million. The $11.7 million will be paid through bonds approved by town voters in 2014.

The ground-breaking ceremony for the new center will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 1, in a ceremony near the visitor parking lot but away from the current construction.

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This month the Wake Forest Town Board awarded the contract for the renovation and additions to the Northern Wake Senior Center to Focus Design Builders. The company was the low bidder and also promised the shortest construction time – 269 days or nine months – when other bidders promised completion in 300 to 365 days. The contract is for $3,983,039, which is $70,424 less than the company’s bid because Focus Design worked with architect Matt Hale to remove some items and adjust others. The work includes replacing the roof and adding exercise and multi-purpose rooms.

Work is now scheduled to begin in late May or early June, and there are tentative plans for a ground-breaking ceremony in early to mid-June.

The project was delayed in February because there were only four responses in the first round of bidding. After re-advertising, nine general contractors submitted their qualifications.

While the town owns the building the programming is managed by Resources for Seniors.

It was seniors who made the building on East Holding Avenue possible. In 1987 the Wake Forest Baptist Church decided to renovate its Sunday School building where a nutrition program that served seniors was housed. That disruption of a needed program led a group of retired people to form the Northern Wake Senior Citizens Association which was headed by Rufus Forrest, a respected former teacher, principal and county school supervisor. Others involved were E.G. Macon Jr., Tom Arrington, Inez Hall, Miriam Fonville, Annie Belle Bullock, Luna Marshall, Nannie Brandon, Worth Jackson, Thelma Wright, Mabel Shearin, Hope Newsom, David Haver, Hattie Merrit and Ida Holding among others. With financial and other help from the town, Wake County and state departments the group was able to buy the site on East Holding.

Fund-raising events including a day-long festival netted enough to encourage the group to hold a ground-breaking in the spring of 1993, but the building was guaranteed when Bertha Harris, a retired school teacher, gave them a check for $250,000. After the building was complete, the group gave it to the town.

Harris also gave $100,000 to beautify the Wake Forest Cemetery on North White Street and asked that her nephew, Hayes McNeil, be named to a committee to oversee how the money was spent. Others named to the board were Bob Snow, Jenny Brewer, Hazel Jones, Ruth Snyder and Edwin Alford. That board evolved into the current town Cemetery Advisory Board.

Harris asked that the money be an endowment. The town has kept the money in a separate account, spending only the interest.