INSIDE:
Community
Calendar
55
Mazel
Toy!
58
Launching
Center
After the ICC's $33 million renovation,
'
SHARON LUCKERMAN
Ste-Writer
F
fitness Director Annette
Whiting loves to watch mem-
bers when they first see the
new Jewish Community
Center's Fitness Center in West
Bloomfield.
"Awesome!" says Irene Kwitny of West
Bloomfield, who has come to work out.
"It's a vast improvement," says Al
Green of Farmington Hills, a three-year
JCC member. "The environment is
much better, and there's more people."
The JCC is hoping to entice even
more to join vrhen it hosts a grand open-
ing from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Sept.
21. Though the state-of-the-art fitness
center has been open since April, this
event will show off the $7 million south
wing renovation, which includes the fit-
ness center, locker rooms, a new gym
and rooms for activities including Pilates,
yoga and babysitting.
The renovations are part of the most
ambitious building project in the history
of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit.
Five years ago, the now-28-year-old
JCC in West Bloomfield was in crisis.
Top: Detail ofiewish star frosted on doorways in fitness area.
No longer keeping pace with the chang-
Center: Irene Kwitny works out in the KC's new Fitness Club.
ing needs of the Jewish community, its
Bottom: Past JCC President N Brewster Broder of West Bloomfield
membership was dropping and with it
compliments David Stone, assistant executive director, on the
the revenue needed to sustain staff and
Center's Fitness Center.
two buildings.
Yet, according to the 1997 Bloom
ing arm, and the JCC — moved forward on expan-
report, a survey commissioned by former JCC presi-
sion and renovation of the D. Dan and Betty Kahn
dent Douglas Bloom, the community wanted a cen-
Building in West Bloomfield. It also aided the Jimmy
ter for families to gather — a place to connect to the
Prentis Morris Building in Oak Park, where the
Jewish community regardless of affiliation, age or
Meyer and Anna Prentis social hall was renovated,
ability.
among other improvements.
So Federation — in cooperation with the United
Jewish Foundation, Federation's real estate and bank-
LAUNCHING on page 44
9/12
2003
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