Renovations get the go-ahead for Osher Marin JCC

Renovations to the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center in San Rafael will begin in late December.

The three-phase project will nearly triple the size of the fitness center and increase programming space and the sometimes overburdened parking lot.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for Dec. 27. The construction is planned in stages, so as not to disrupt the use of the center, which will remain open throughout the entire process.

And while phase one was approved by the county planning commission last week, the JCC is still awaiting approval for the next two phases. That could come as early as next week.

"They've had our plans for a long time, and we've been working closely with them," said Patty Gessner, marketing director for the Osher Marin JCC and a member of the redesign committee.

The renovations are scheduled to take one year to complete.

The $11 million project — of which $8 million is raised — is being done by Gensler Associates.

"Our current center was designed nearly 20 years ago," said Judy Wolff-Bolton, acting executive director. "It's time to make major improvements to better serve the community more effectively."

In the Koret Center for Health and Fitness, individual spaces will be opened up to create a larger area. Equipment will be updated and a second story will be built over half of the gymnasium, to house new exercise studios.

The locker rooms will be improved as well.

"Our fitness center has become outdated," said Wolff-Bolton. "We want to offer the best health and fitness center possible."

Renovations on the second floor also include the new Toole Center for Youth & Family with an improved childcare facility; a new room for the JCC's parent-toddler programs; an art studio that will be shared with Brandeis Hillel Day School next door; a teen lounge with computers, gaming tables and a large screen TV and additional office space.

Downstairs, a new atrium will be built adjacent to the lobby, which will increase the amount of programming space. The courtyard that exists now will be enclosed. The space will have retractable doors which will allow it to be used in various configurations, depending on the size of the event.

"With retractable space, we can either open it up or run three smaller programs concurrently," said Gessner.

Then in a final phase, a new children's play area will be added next to the outdoor pool, as well as a deck, where yoga and other classes can be offered.

And the purchase of the property next door at 210 N. San Pedro Road will allow the JCC to have an overflow parking lot.

Because the JCC shares a campus with Congregation Rodef Sholom and Brandeis Hillel Day School, parking spaces can be hard to come by, especially if two of the institutions are holding events on the same night.

During the construction, the lot will be used as a staging area for construction equipment, so as not to use parking lot space at the JCC. But once it is completed, it will be painted over and used as an additional parking lot.

The JCC has also worked out a plan to ease traffic congestion in the neighborhood. This includes encouraging members to carpool or use public transportation, and staff parking off-site.

"We've worked very closely with county planners and neighborhood organizations to ensure that this renovation will have a positive impact on our neighborhood," said Wolff-Bolton.