Lyon Park Community House Renovations May Get Tax Boost

Plans to renovate the historic Lyon Park Community House, at least 15 years in the making, are coming close to fruition.

With architectural plans in place, neighborhood leaders are making a big fundraising push. They’re hoping that the upcoming tax season provides a bounty of tax-deductible stock donations and large corporate gifts.

As of October, the Lyon Park Citizens Association was about $430,000 away from their total fundraising goal of $550,000. In addition to large donations, the group is raising money by holding events like a recent gala dinner.

“We need the support of everyone in this tremendous community effort,” the association says on its web site.

No county money will be used for the renovation, since the house and the surrounding park are owned by the Citizen’s Association. However, the association expects to receive $17,500 from Ironwood Realty as a result of a condition set for the pending construction of the developer’s Garfield Park project.

The planned Community House renovations will add ADA-compliant bathrooms and a new kitchen to the 85-year-old structure. The building’s exterior will remain much the same, except for the addition of a sunroom facing the park.

Lary Mayer, the association’s vice president for development, says that if fundraising goals are met, the group hopes to break ground on the renovations next year.