Nash Hernandez Building still among four sites considered to host senior, child programs

The city is continuing work to establish a community center for seniors and young children in East Austin, with sites under consideration including the Nash Hernandez Building.

A memo released last week discloses the latest progress related to a December 2022 resolution from City Council. The resolution called for a variety of administrative steps related the creation of an intergenerational resource activity center, or IRAC. Council noted a preference toward the Nash Hernandez Building for that use, despite the Parks and Recreation Department’s position that the building should be converted into offices for itself.

The Nash Hernandez Building is a long-idle, 9,600-square-foot facility located on the grounds of Holly Shores/Edward Rendon Sr. Metropolitan Park at Festival Beach. It was built in 1966 and formerly housed the Austin Fire Department’s Arson Division and a museum. It has been empty since 2009, according to the city website.

The recent memo from Adrienne Sturrup, director of Austin Public Health, notes that the health and parks departments have held a number of community engagement activities regarding the creation and logistics of the IRAC, with Mendez Recreation Center, George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center and Dittmar Recreation Center as other possible locations. An online survey conducted in May and June sought opinions on the best site for the center, with five meetings held through the end of June for the same purpose. Staff is still working to compile the feedback from those sessions, as well as a June 20 online forum.

The memo points out that special attention is being given to how the child care program would fit with the needs and activities of seniors at the same facility. Austin Public Health staff have met with some members of the IRAC Advisory Group regarding plans to serve both demographics.

Staff members are looking into the licensing requirements and financial scenarios for the child care program at the eventual center. Talks also have included research with the Texas Health and Human Services Child Care Regulation staff regarding safety considerations and other requirements related to child care.

Beyond the eventual release of the community feedback findings, the memo doesn’t spell out any near-term activities related to the future of the center, which has become a somewhat contentious issue over the past year.

In October, Parks and Recreation Department Director Kimberly McNeeley told the mayor and City Council via memo that converting the Nash Hernandez Building into offices rather than a community center was the best use of the property, citing a feasibility study.

McNeeley’s memo cited estimates that it will cost between $8.2 million and $11 million to convert the building into an IRAC. The office conversion would cost just over $3 million, which the parks department had available at that time.

Just prior to that memo, the Community Development Commission held a lengthy – and at times contentious – debate over the possible use of the Nash Hernandez Building for the IRAC. Some members said that the facility had been designated in a community plan for other uses.

That debate led the chair of the Community Development Commission to consider asking Council to conduct an investigation over a possible pattern of bullying during meetings.

In April, the Parks and Recreation Board heard an update from the IRAC Advisory Group on the specific plans for the Nash Hernandez Building, including an indoor garden, a community space, a welcome center and therapy rooms, as well as designated areas for children and older adults.

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Posted In: Planning, District 3