Charlotte
Charlotte Shopping Guide
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© 2011 Lansing Community Newspapers
Your very own newspaper serving Charlotte, Olivet, Bellevue, Vermontville and Potterville for 62 years
Vol. 62 - No. 33
www.CharlotteShoppingGuide.com
Plan in place for aquatic center Rachel Greco rgreco@lsj.com
CHARLOTTE — This Monday, Aug. 15, the Board of Education will vote on whether or not to ask voters in November for a millage to support the Charlotte Aquatic Center. If the .5 mill proposal makes it on the ballot this fall, Charlotte Schools Superintendent Nancy Hipskind said school officials and pool supporters have their work cut out for them. The measure, if approved, would supplement operations at the center — opened in 2004 and still being paid for by taxpayer dollars — for just five years. After that, supporters of the center will have needed to implement a “marketing plan” developed to help the facility grow its user base and to help it pay for itself.
August 14, 2011
Growing use Adam Jones is the aquatic center supervisor and was a member of the 14-member marketing committee charged with creating a plan to help the facility become more self-sustaining. Jones said the key to getting there exists now. “It’s going to be a tough road, just like anything,” he said. “But if we attack it the
right way, this plan will work.” The aquatic center’s annual budget is between $300,000 and $350,000. Student use accounts for anywhere between $70,000 and $100,000 of that. Hipskind said that leaves over $200,000 a year that officials are hoping the center can generate itself after five years. During its busiest months, in the winter, the center sees an average of 1,300 visitors. Hipskind believes that number needs to climb to an average of 2,000 per month all year long. “When we say we have people there, yes we do but we don’t have enough people there,” she said. “We don’t have enough people in any age group.” The center’s marketing plan aims to offer more attractions for recreational activity — both for kids and adults. Just a week ago the staff debuted its new $10,000 wibit. Three-fourths of the cost for the giant inflatable toy/obstacle course was paid for with a private donation. Jones said it is just the beginning of offering pool goers more to do at the facility — beyond swimming laps and swimming See PLAN, Page 6
August 14, 2011
AL!VE project taking shape Rachel Greco
| rgreco@lsj.com
CHARLOTTE — Patrick Sustrich can walk you around the dusty, busy AL!VE property and point out the key areas as they are taking shape. Sustrich is the future director of the project, Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital’s visionary “wellness hub” — that will offer everything from women’s health services to an indoor walking path and health-food cafe. In its first phase AL!VE will be a 45,000 square feet endeavor at the former Felpausch location off Lawrence Avenue. It’s price tag of $12.6 million is just the beginning. The hospital raised $10 million to get the concept off the ground and fund raising has thus far generated $2.7 million. Hospital officials need to raise a total of $4 million before AL!IVE’s second phase can begin. That will include a conference center and children’s programming and child care. The facility is tentatively scheduled to open in late October. Sustrich said a community open house is being planned for Oct. 23. In three months a lot will have to happen.
Big plans “There will be something for everyone,” said Sustrich, who stresses that the project is a whole lot
Hayes Green Beach Health and Wellness Director Patrick Sustrich, the future director of AL!VE, walks the facility site, now under construction, as he points out progress being made there. RACHEL GRECO\LCN more than an extension of the hospital’s Health and Wellness Center. “Anything that makes you feel alive counts. Coming to an outdoor courtyard and de stressing after work is just as fundamental to health as working out is.” When AL!IVE opens this fall it will offer two outdoor courtyards, a multi-purpose gym, physical and occupational therapy, women’s services and a demonstration kitchen — alone with fitness and education programs. It will also include a staff of about 35 people. “For the most part construction is on schedule,” explained Sustrich, and although recent heavy
rains presented a challenge to construction crews all the buildings dry wall is up and brick work on site is nearly done. In the next few weeks construction crews will install all the glass, enclosing the building and clearing the way for the installation of equipment, carpeting and furniture throughout the building.
Collaboration When it’s doors are open Sustrich said HGB hopes every Charlotte area resident takes advantage of what AL!VE will offer. “We’ve set a goal of 8,000 visits a month,” he explained. In order to make that
happen, Sustrich said working with the community — including the city government, school district and civic groups — is a must. “The whole project is built upon community collaboration,” said Sustrich. “That’s one of our guiding principals.” Those in the community are following suit, showing support for AL!VE. Just last month the Charlotte City Council voted to waive building inspection fees for the hospital project, so far totaling $35,000, in exchange for using a small portion of the AL!VE property for See AL!VE, Page 6
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