Council to hold business meeting April 12

Renovation design for Arts Center gymnasium on agenda

(Release date: April 8, 2022)

Simpsonville, S.C. — Simpsonville City Council will hold a regularly scheduled business meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

On the agenda are the reading of a proclamation for Child Abuse Prevention Month; presentation on the planned municipal complex by DP3 Architects; recognition of awards recently received by the City of Simpsonville; and proposal for the renovation design of the Simpsonville Arts Center gymnasium.

City Administrator Dianna Gracely will present on Tuesday to City Council a proposal by DP3 Architects for a renovation design of the gymnasium in the Simpsonville Arts Center. Council signaled support for renovation of the gymnasium at the Committee of the Whole meeting in March.

In a 4-0 vote at Committee of the Whole, Council moved approval of design fees for DP3 Architects to create construction drawings to the April business meeting. Council members Jenn Hulehan of Ward III, Lou Hutchings of Ward VI and Sherry Roche of Ward IV and Mayor Paul Shewmaker voted for the motion made by Roche and seconded by Hutchings.

Gracely told Council in March that the central heating and air in the gymnasium does not work, paint is peeling and the space for the former locker rooms is unusable with the current layout of the structure.

"The idea basically is that we have this beautiful auditorium that can be great event space for things outside of Mill Town (Players), when Mill Town's not using it for their productions," Gracely said.

Theater group out of Pelzer Mill Town Players will start performances this summer at the newly renovated Arts Center.

"If the gymnasium were renovated and had central heating and air, that would be great space for events as well, and perhaps the two could even work together. I can envision a wedding in the auditorium with a reception in the gymnasium among many other things."

Replacement of the gymnasium HVAC system qualifies for funds from the American Rescue Plan Act passed by Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic since the HVAC system addresses air quality, according to Gracely.

Hutchings and Roche voiced their support for quality accessibility in the gymnasium and Arts Center for people with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Mayor Shewmaker emphasized preservation of history.

"I think it is extremely important that we do everything we possibly can to preserve the historic look of the interior of that gymnasium, including hanging onto the bleachers," Mayor Shewmaker said.

Council can approve the design fees for renovation of the gymnasium with a majority vote Tuesday night. 

Mayor Shewmaker will also highlight awards to City of Simpsonville employees and the City itself. City employees were awarded by the United Way of Greenville County in March the Chairman's Award for their contributions to the United Way 2021 pledge campaign.

The City was awarded in April Organizational Donor of the Year by Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County for its role in the development of the Woodside Park neighborhood. More than half of the planned 13 Habitat homes on land donated by the City to Habitat Greenville have been completed.

Simpsonville residents and business owners who would like to participate in the Citizen Comments portion of Tuesday night's agenda in Council Chambers must sign up no later than 6:10 p.m.