Santa Ana OKs Community Center Project

After years of planning and jumping through bureaucratic hoops to secure funding, the nonprofit Delhi Assn. has won approval from the Santa Ana City Council to build a $7-million community center in one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods.

One hitch, though. The council has commitments for only a little more than $5 million in state and federal grants for the project. Still, city and Delhi Assn. officials are willing to gamble that the remaining $2 million or so can be raised in time.

The nonprofit agency currently works out of old barracks near Delhi Park, on Warner Avenue between Main Street and Grand Avenue, and provides services for people in need, from literacy courses to recreational and health care programs, including assistance for AIDS patients.

“It’s our ‘Field of Dreams,’ ” Councilwoman Patricia A. McGuigan said of the planned center to be built on a now-vacant public works yard on East Central Avenue. “Where the [Delhi group] is at now, there is no air-conditioning in the summer or heat in the winter. This will make life much happier for them.”

Because of the funding shortage, however, the city has cut some of the amenities planned for the 26,000-square-foot center, including two workout rooms, handball courts, locker rooms and improvements to the existing park area. Furnishings and equipment will have to come from private donations.

“The city has made some commitments that we would come up with the money so that those things we’re having to cut can be added to the project later, and that includes some of the rooms in the facility and the park improvements,” said Souri Amirani, a senior civil engineer for the city.

City officials and most Delhi board members said they feel confident they can raise the rest of the money once construction begins next month. Officials expect the building will take a year to finish.

“Our biggest problem with fund-raising has been that people want to see a project in progress, and when all they see is an empty lot, they’re reluctant to hand over any money,” said Robert Silva, vice president of the Delhi Assn. and principal of Monroe Elementary School, adjacent to the site. “Now that construction will be underway, we can go ahead and seek big [donors].”

The Delhi board now is forming a fund-raising committee that will seek donations--mostly in the $100,000 range--from local corporations, Silva said. City officials have vowed to help in a fund-raising campaign as well.

But Rick Rodriguez, a Delhi board member who appeared before the council this week, raised his own concern that the city might be acting in haste.

“All we have is a shell of a community center right now,” Rodriguez said after the council meeting. “What was approved is half a building that is only half functional. Their intention is to raise the money while it is under construction--maybe it’s doable, maybe it’s not. My problem is the council’s priorities.”

Securing funding wasn’t an easy task. First there was the county bankruptcy, and then the state took away millions from city coffers to balance the budget. The city also had to complete a $2-million toxic cleanup at the site.

Now, the city has $5,035,000 in state and federal grants to spend on the project and has allocated $150,000 from the general fund. That, city officials said, shows their commitment.

“You can’t please everyone,” Councilwoman Alberta D. Christy said. “The most important thing is to start moving and building that center. It’s been eight years that we’ve been talking about doing this, and you’ve got everyone on the council working tremendously to do whatever it takes to get it up and running.”

Community Expects Benefits to Come

Catalina Luera, who lives across the street from the proposed site, said the council made the right decision.

“It’s been a long time coming,” she said. “People are hoping it will provide employment for the community, and the programs will be good for the kids.”

Gina Gomez said knowing her 10-year-old son will have place to go to study and participate in activities while she’s at work will give her some peace of mind.

“It will give him something to get involved in,” she said. “And me too.”

The center will offer classroom space, examination rooms and a multipurpose hall. The agency is negotiating partnerships with Santa Ana College, UC Irvine and the Santa Ana Unified School District to offer accredited classes in fields such as auto repair and computers. Other nonprofit agencies would have use of the center to provide health care to low-income families.

Workout rooms also are part of the plan, but more money will be needed before handball courts and aerobic exercise and weightlifting rooms can be built.