In an Oct. 11 City Council update presentation, Ferndale's City Manager announced his decision not to reopen the Kulick Community Center at this time.

The decision is based purely on safety concerns; $25k in necessary repairs earmarked for this fall were not approved/ completed because a heavy rain event this summer caused a significant roof issue and revealed previously unknown structural problems with the building.

A structural assessment report will be completed within the next week, with official findings presented to City Council on October 25.

Kulick Community Center Update

On Monday, October 12, 2021, City Manager Joseph Gacioch and Facilities Manager James Jameson provided an update to City Council regarding the status of the Gerry Kulick Community Center.

The nearly hundred-year-old building was closed in spring of 2020 due to safety concerns surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic. At that time, the aging facility was already experiencing significant HVAC, plumbing, and electrical issues, among other concerns.

With the goal of reopening the facility this fall, City Council was set to consider an approval of $25,000 in necessary repairs at their July 12 meeting. However, the request was sidelined when the roof above the boiler room sustained considerable damage during a heavy rainfall event, delaying scheduled repairs and—more importantly—revealing previously unknown structural issues with the building.

This new information, guided by concern for the community and all who use the Center, led Gacioch to the decision that additional structural analyses and information are needed before the building can be reopened.

A thorough structural analysis of the Kulick Center building was performed in recent weeks, with a final report expected in the next week. Gacioch said that the details of the report will be presented to City Council for their consideration at the October 25 meeting.

City Space; Not a City Building

It's important to recognize that while the City's Parks and Recreation Department and community programming has been housed in the Kulick Center for many years, the City does not own the building. The Kulick Center, formerly the Washington Elementary School, is owned by the Ferndale School District. There is a limit to what the City can do, financially and due to risk liability, with a rented building.

Gacioch and City officials have been involved in good-faith negotiation efforts with Ferndale School leaders for some time on a potential land swap that could give the City full ownership of the building; however, complex land ownership issues exist from long before current Council, City staff, and School Board members and leadership became involved. It remains a multi-layered and intricate process without a known outcome at this time.

Next Steps

What we know to be true at this moment is the following:

1. The Kulick Center building is unsafe and cannot be opened. We'll know more about the building's issues in need of repair and costs associated with safety improvements in the coming week, with a report expected at the October 25 City Council meeting.
2. With winter approaching, the City Manager must consider a home for the Parks and Recreation Department's staff and activities, including programming needs for children and seniors.
3. The ownership of the building remains under negotiation between the City and the Ferndale School District.
4. The highest-level consideration at all times is and will continue to be the safety of the community and the people who use the facility.

Associated Information and Resources

October 11, 2021, City Council Meeting and Agenda Packet | Meeting Video | Meeting Slides

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