www.towntimes.com
Volume 29, Number 6
Friday, February 10, 2023
A look inside the new community center Ribbon-cutting, open house at former school building draws a crowd By Nicole Zappone Town Times
More than 200 residents were in attendance Sunday, Feb. 5 for a ribbon-cutting and open house at the yet unfinished community center, formerly the Francis E. Korn Elementary School. Durham First Selectman George Eames said it was wonderful to see so many residents come together to tour the property, and he made a point to say that the Korn Building Committee appreciated the positive feedback it heard from attendees. Eames said this day was a long time coming. In 2021 it appeared that the vacant building at 44 Pickett Lane was headed for demolition. However, after a successful petition drive, and a referendum vote, the Town of Durham moved to turn the former school into a multi-purpose community center. Durham residents voted to take ownership of the building from the Region 13 School District, for $1, and approved drawing $1 million from the town’s Building Reserve Fund for the initial project costs. Among the attendees at Sunday’s ribbon-cutting and open house was longtime local educator Ray Hubbard, who taught third grade at Korn; and Nancy Bihlmeyer, who has lived in Durham for more than 50 years, and recalled holding meetings at Korn as a Girl Scout leader. Phase 1 of the community center project is complete,
Jason Stone, Jr., 4, plays checkers with his father Sunday inside the new community center at 44 Pickett Lane. Photos by Nicole Zappone
and Sunday, people had a look inside at the First Selectman’s office, gymnasium, senior center, and several other spaces. “This was a fantastic kickoff," Selectman Chad Spooner said. "And I am looking forward to seeing the answers from the suggestion boxes placed around the building.” Spooner said Durham's emergency management team will soon work out of the new community center. For the past few years, emergency services has been housed in a room on the third floor of Town Hall. With the move to the community center, Spooner said emergency services will be able to function much better and have everything they need at hand.