Marin City Nears Initial Phase of Community Center Rehabilitation

Marin City leaders are poised to decide how to spend a $3 million state grant to start renovating the community center and gymnasium.

Consultants have completed an assessment of the needed improvements and estimated the project cost at upwards of $13.5 million.

The Marin City Community Services District board will consider the initial scope of work at its meeting in September, said Sarah Canson, the board chair.

“I just want to get it done and push us as far as we can go with that $3 million,” she said Tuesday. “We can start with requests for proposals and get a project manager.”

“It’s moving forward,” said architect Richard Parker, who oversaw the assessment. “There will be changes happening for the good of the community in those buildings and these are the steps that it takes to get there. The board now has the conditions assessment.”

Parker’s firm, 450 Architects, was hired last summer to inventory needed repairs and prepare materials to seek bids. The process is on track to seek bids in January for work to be done next summer.

“We took a look at what is the condition of the structures: mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems, hazardous materials, lighting, accessibility and then programming,” he said. “Does it meet the programming needs? Are these buildings worth saving?”

The consultants inspected the community center and gymnasium at 630-640 Drake Ave. The buildings were sound but required extensive upgrades to meet building, safety and health codes.

Another contractor, Leland Saylor Associates, determined the cost estimate. The figure will change once designs are developed and material and labor costs are known.

“The Manzanita Recreation Center exhibits more substantial modernization needs than the Senior Center and represents the campus’s highest priority for future investment,” the conditions assessment report said. “Many building systems and major building components have reached or exceeded their expected service life.”

The gym, built more than a half-century ago, does not have a sprinkler system, the report said. The building does not meet accessibility requirements. Flooring, insulation and drywall contain asbestos and have lead paint, which is hazardous. The roof and building exterior should be replaced. The building doesn’t have a functioning cooling and heating system. Electrical panels should be replaced. The kitchen, which has some new appliances, is not up to code. Bathrooms, some of which have new toilets, are connected to lateral sewer pipes whose capacity should be increased.

The Marguerita C. Johnson Senior Center, which was remodeled in 1987 and houses the district offices, is in better shape. Still, the assessment found it needs better accessibility and mechanical improvements, such as heating and cooling systems and electrical upgrades.

“The kitchen requires complete replacement to meet current programmatic, code and health department requirements,” it said. “A new stove is still in its shipping carton in the building entry lobby awaiting installation.”

“At this point, what we’re trying to do is figure out what’s the condition of the building, what’s hazardous, what’s not?” Parker said. “How do they want to spend that $3 million?”

“What we want to do is move forward and start requesting bids from contractors,” Canson said.

https://www.marinij.com/2026/08/27/marin-city-nears-initial-phase-of-community-center-rehabilitation