Lyon Park Community House Renovations May Get Tax Boost

by ARLnow.com November 12, 2010 at 10:59 am 2,685 14 Comments

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.

tuesdayschild

No waterfall for dogs to play in?
- NorthAdams
  
  ha. Lyon Park is the poor man’s Lyon Village.
- TGEoA
  
  Speaking of dogs, that park has a sign on it saying “Please no dogs”.
  
  Isn’t the park portion a PUBLIC park? AFAIK you can take (leashed) dogs in ANY public park as long a you clean up their poop.
  - Whitney Wilson
    
    My understanding is the the whole park and the Community House is owned by the Lyon Park Citizens Association.
    - TGEoA
      
      Thanks, couldnt find anything on that. However I don’t know if they can set their own rules for park access.
      - cj
        
        The association may set its own rules for use of its grounds, just as an individual homeowner may control others’ use of her yard. Lyon Park has been extremely generous and hospitable in maintaining the open space and allowing everyone to enjoy it for many years.
      - TGEoA
        
        The question is what are the easements? Is the house seperate from the park? HOA’s that contribute land for parks are not allowed to set such rules, so I would be curious to see the documentation for these parcels.
  - SoCo Resident
    
    The non-public Lyon Park Citizens Association land was set aside by Mr. Lyon the origninal builder of Lyon Park. He did the same in Lyon Village. It did not involved a HOA; there isn’t one. There is a board to run the building and its grounds. Glad TGEoA is curious to see the documentation for these parcels at the Courthouse.
KalashniKEV

Will the “tax-deductible stock donations and large corporate gifts” really be enough to get them close?

$550K is a high mark to shoot for with bakesales, dinners, and (as mentioned)shakedown money…

I wouldn’t mind the county helping them out with like… maybe, $5 G’s if they could relocate the ASPAN shelter there…
SoCo Resident

What was the outcome over access to people with disabilties? Originallly this was not going to be ADA compliant since it would cost more and was not a public facility. How was this resolved? Before people give money!
- Parkfan
  
  Fully accessible bathrooms are part of the approved renovation design. More information about the design process and results of the community’s work are available at: http://www.lyonparkcitizens.org/Renovation.html.
The Mothership

ADA compliance is a given. A “public” facility means that it’s open to the public, regardless of who owns it.
lyon parker

Great to live in Lyon Park, but $550k is a massive amount for shuffling the floorplan of an old building. Looking at all the Mickey Simpson boxes around the park, I guess there’s plenty of money nearby, but the increased revenue from community events will never pay for the project (more Yoga classes or kids birthday parties can’t generate that much!).
I’ll focus on trying to keep up with my growing Arlington tax bill. :-p
Kristofer Knutsen

Just found this greatt website!

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