jews d

in
the

Coming
Soon?

Aaron Tobin, a leader of the
Federation told the JN it had to
Save the Oak Park JCC commit-
make the numbers work to cover
tee, who collected signatures
the cost of the space, mainte-
and tried to raise funds to keep
nance and upkeep. “We thought,
JPM open in 2015, said,
and hoped, it would
“I don’t think we’re get-
go much faster, but we
ting the whole story.
need to make sure the
There have been no
agencies interested in
announcements, no
taking space are able to
transparency. Perhaps
succeed in that space,”
they hope we’re just
said Scott Kaufman,
going to fizzle out and
Federation CEO.
then they’ll sell the
Federation leaders
Aaron Tobin
property to someone
also said they had been
else.”
unable to find a pool
The Save the Oak
operator for the new
Park JCC committee suggested
facility, “but we’re still trying.”
to Federation they put a sign
The pool was considered one
up on the vacant property. “It
of the most important elements
tears at our heart when we walk
of the Oak Park JCC, especially to
to shul and see that empty lot,”
the surrounding Orthodox com-
Tobin said.
munity, because it was available
Wolfe said in his emailed
to men and women at separate
response: “We understand and
times, according to Tobin.
sympathize with frustrations
At that August 2016 meet-
among local community mem-
ing, Kaufman told the JN that
bers. While it has taken longer
if arrangements with the social
than anyone wanted, we are
service agencies and other pos-
doing our best to share infor-
sible tenants didn’t happen
mation when possible, without
within the next six months,
setting expectations that won’t
Federation planners and leaders
come to fruition.”
would likely “have to go back to
the drawing board.”

Federation still seeking
viable solution to new
JPM facility; resid ents
still seeking answers.

This sign was erected near the site of the former Jimmy Prentis Morris Jewish Community Center in Oak Park.

JACKIE HEADAPOHL MANAGING EDITOR

Federation
“remains
committed to
building a new
JPM facility on
the Taubman
Campus and
we are doing
everything we
can to make
that possible.”

— LARRY WOLFE,
FEDERATION PRESIDENT

T

Federation President Larry Wolfe
he site of the former
Oak Park Jimmy Prentis
agreed to respond to an emailed
Morris Jewish Community list of questions.
Responding to a ques-
Center sits vacant. A
sign that reads “Coming
tion about the delay
Soon — The New Jimmy
in construction, Wolfe
Prentis Morris Jewish
responded: “The plan-
ning process has been
Community Facility” is
posted on the empty lot.
ongoing, which has
But no one at Federation
included the creation of
is able or willing to say
architectural designs for
a facility that will offer
just what “soon” means.
Larry Wolfe
space for community
According to the last
use as well as house a
public update from
Federation in August
number of Jewish
agencies.
2016 — which came a year after
“The process is taking lon-
JPM was closed to cut a financial
ger than expected due to the
shortfall in the JCC budget —
complexity of securing tenants,
construction on the new facility
which is critical to ensuring that
was slated for spring 2017.
the building serves the commu-
Since May, the JN has made
nity without becoming a finan-
multiple attempts to schedule
cial burden. We have not yet
an in-person interview with
reached the point where we can
Federation officials to discuss
announce a start date.”
the former JPM site. In late July,

ALAN HITSKY

JPM BACKGROUND

Two public forums that col-
THE CURRENT SITUATION
lectively drew 750 people were
According to Wolfe, Federation
held Jan. 12-13, 2015. At those
“remains committed to build-
forums, Federation leaders con-
ing a new JPM facility on the
cluded that “decoupling JPM
Taubman Campus and we are
from the JCC” was the only solu- doing everything we can to make
tion to closing a budget gap of
that possible. We will continue
more than $1 million. However,
to pursue this with the hope that
Federation committed to keep
we can maintain a viable opera-
the building Jewish, to continue
tion that will serve the commu-
programming and to preserve
nity.”
the Jimmy Prentis
According to Tobin,
Morris name.
the former Oak Park
A week before JPM’s
JPM had three things
scheduled closure in
that created commu-
August 2015, Wolfe and
nity and brought people
Federation CEO Scott
together: a pool, a place
Kaufman told 250 mem-
to eat and a workout
bers of the Save the Oak
facility. “What in the
Park JCC committee that
new facility will help to
Scott Kaufman
an anonymous donor
create community and
had stepped forward,
bring people together?”
pledging to replace the
he asked.
current JPM building
The JN emailed
with a state-of-the-art, energy-
that question to Wolfe, who
efficient building.
responded: “The designs include
The concept was to make the
what will be a warm, contempo-
building an outpost for social
rary community-use space. The
service agencies to serve the
building will also host a variety
community, plus include meet-
of on-going programs for our
ing rooms for various purposes,
local Jewish agencies, including
a fitness area and a pool.
the JCC.
“The only requirement is that
“Unfortunately, we know that
the new facility is self-sustain-
health clubs are no longer viable
ing,” Wolfe said at that meeting.
draws for most JCCs, as very
A year later, in August 2016,
low-cost alternatives — such as

continued on page 20

18

August 17 • 2017

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