Selby Shelter Renovation: Three Options Presented to Council

City Council received a comprehensive presentation on September 8th outlining three renovation options for the Selby Park shelter, with costs ranging from a modest $250,000 interior refresh to a complete $850,000+ rebuild. The presentation, delivered by Pod Design consultant Alex Camponeschi, represents the culmination of extensive community engagement conducted throughout 2024.

Community-Driven Design Process

Parks and Recreation Director Darren Hurley noted that this project stems from the 2017 Parks Master Plan and has been shaped significantly by community input. The design team conducted multiple engagement sessions, including meetings with the Colonial Hill Civic Association, Parks and Recreation Commission, and public open houses.

Hurley noted about the community expressed a strong desire to maintain the shelter's affordable rental rates and neighborhood character, rather than pursuing a grand contemporary structure.

Three Renovation Options

Option A: Limited Renovation ($250,000)

The most modest approach focuses primarily on interior improvements and essential accessibility upgrades:

• Wall modifications to create ADA-compliant restrooms by expanding into the current kitchen space
• Enhanced main entry with potential storefront windows and overhang for better visibility
• Updated lighting, flooring, and finishes throughout
• Parking lot resealing and basic site improvements
• No exterior restrooms or significant additions

Option B: Full Renovation ($700,000+)

This mid-tier option includes all interior improvements plus significant site and building enhancements:

• Reconfigured parking lot with proper striping and circulation (currently described as "the Wild West")
• Addition of exterior restrooms and drinking fountain for park users
• New vestibule extension to highlight the main entrance
• Additional windows on the south side for natural light
• Expanded multipurpose room with bay windows
• More extensive site improvements around the building

Option C: Complete Rebuild ($850,000+)

The most comprehensive option involves demolishing the existing 1946 structure and building new:

• Modern, efficient floor plan with vaulted ceilings and garage doors
• Strategic placement of utilities and storage on the south side to minimize disruption during private events
• Enhanced east-west indoor-outdoor flow
• Option for street-side parking to create more green space (though this received mixed community feedback)
• Preservation of all mature, healthy trees on site

Key Community Priorities

The design process revealed several consistent themes across all community engagement sessions:

Exterior Restrooms: Identified as crucial for families using the playground and park facilities. Council members emphasized this as a top priority, noting the challenges parents face when children need restroom access.

ADA Accessibility: The shelter previously served as a polling station but lost this capability due to accessibility issues. Restoring this function was identified as important to neighborhood pride.

Parking Improvements: The current lot lacks striping and clear circulation, accommodating only 14-16 vehicles when properly marked.

Maintaining Character: The community consistently expressed desire to preserve the shelter's scale, affordability, and neighborhood feel rather than pursuing an upscale facility.

Financial Considerations and Next Steps

It was noted that the current Capital Improvements Program includes $750,000 for Selby Park shelter renovation in 2027 - a figure that falls between the limited renovation and full renovation costs but doesn't reach the rebuild price point. It was explained that the similarity in price of the full renovation (Option B) and complete rebuild (Option C) is due to the fact that renovation costs include expensive preservation work, structural modifications, and working within existing concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls, making demolition and rebuilding similar in total cost.

Council members discussed potential funding sources, including Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) grants that helped fund McCord Park improvements. However, staff noted that grant applications would compete with other priorities, including the pending Olentangy Trail project funding decision.

Timeline and Decision Points

No immediate decisions were requested from Council. This presentation serves as background information for the upcoming Capital Improvements Program discussions scheduled for October and November. Staff will return with updated cost estimates that account for recent inflation trends affecting all city construction projects.

The shelter evaluation represents one of the final major items from the 2017 Parks Master Plan's critical project list, following the successful east-end playground renovation that heavily serves the neighborhood.

Looking Ahead

As Council prepares for CIP discussions, they must balance the Selby shelter renovation against competing capital needs throughout the city. The comprehensive community engagement process has provided clear direction on priorities, but the final scope and timeline will depend on available funding and the city's broader infrastructure needs.

The project timeline remains flexible, with staff emphasizing that additional design work and community input would occur regardless of which option moves forward. The current study provides conceptual frameworks and budget targets rather than final construction-ready plans.