Title
Construct an addition, create a new entry plaza, & renovate the Thelma Boltin Center (B)
Petition HP-21-00021. Jason Jensen & Sarah Lyons, Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc., agent for the City of Gainesville, owner. Certificate of Appropriateness to construct an addition, add a new entry plaza, and renovate the Thelma Boltin Center. Located at 516 NE 2nd Avenue. This building is a contributing structure to the Northeast Residential Historic District.
Project Description
The Thelma Boltin Center is a recreation center that was built in 1943 according to the Florida Master Site File and is located within the Northeast Residential Historic District. The building is not within the district time frame (1880s through 1920s) according to the site file, but it represents a very important building in the later history of the district. Some Moderne buildings such as the recreation center are scattered throughout the district. The building was originally known as the “Service Center,” one of several Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects in Gainesville. It was designed to house entertainment programs for servicemen stationed at Camp Blanding and nearby military bases. The center was officially opened in 1943. Miss Thelma Boltin was the City’s first director of the Recreation Center.
The original building was designed with clean, simple, utilitarian details typical of the Moderne or International style and consistent with its governmental purpose. The City Commission at the time wanted the building designed to reflect the future use as a community center and since the property was City-owned, the plans had to accommodate local civic and social organizational needs. The building is a two-wing unit with a large auditorium, social room, small meeting room, and a mezzanine. The original building has only been altered with the addition of a handicap ramp on the southwest entrance side of the building. The building is a painted brick masonr...
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