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Campbell awaits money for community center
By jeanne starmack
campbell
The city is waiting for $15,000 from a state revolving-loan fund so it can purchase a building for a new community center.
Campbell Councilman Bryan Tedesco, who led the effort to acquire the old Faith Temple Baptist building across Roosevelt Avenue from the city’s municipal complex, said that as soon as the money arrives, the city will buy the building.
The city has to purchase a note for the building, which the county sold at an auction, said city finance director Mike Evanson. Then, the city will foreclose on the property to wipe out back taxes and clear the title, Evanson said.
Evanson said the $15,000 is all that’s left in the revolving fund, which the state set up 20 years ago for economic development projects.
A citizens’ group also formed to raise money for the building, which has had donations of a new roof and parking lot.
Tedesco said this week that in addition to a community center that would house activities and services for senior citizens, the building also could house expansions of city departments.
The building is in good shape, Tedesco said.
A committee of community leaders had formed three years ago with the intent of buying the building and turning it into a community center. That plan fell through because the group wanted city council and administrators to take the lead in securing grants to buy and restore it, and city leaders at the time were struggling with fiscal emergency issues.