JCC adopts plan to build Northtowns facility

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo is closing its Amherst location as part of an effort to stem financial losses.

The center's Board of Directors voted April 18 to close the Benderson Family Building on North Forest Road in stages between now and Labor Day.

The move is part of a five-phase plan to achieve financial stability and long-term vitality.

Approximately half of the workforce - 125 employees, most of them part time - will lose their jobs. Managers will aid displaced people with job assistance and counseling.

The strategic plan, "Committed to our Community - Re-Building Your JCC," has five primary phases:

One - Achieve financial stability by consolidating operations to the Holland Family Building.

Two - Provide for continuity of services with excellence.

Three - Develop a plan for a new facility in the Northtowns.

Four - Secure community support and funding for the construction and operation of a new facility in the Northtowns.

Five - Build the new Northtowns facility.

In recognition of the JCC board's decision, the Benderson family has committed $4 million to the plan.

Of that $2 million will enable the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies to buy the Amherst building and begin a planning process with the nearby Weinberg Campus for expansion of its services.

The other $2 million will provide the JCC with the initial seed capital needed to finance the planning process and search for a new JCC site in the Northtowns.

Bruce M. Wisbaum, president of the JCC board, said, "We've had a great run in the Benderson Building, but it no longer meets the needs of the JCC. More importantly, it actually threatens the JCC's financial stability."

Effective June 30, the JCC will commence a phased shutdown of the Benderson Building, which opened in 1972. Operations will cease on or about Labor Day weekend.

The JCC will continue to operate Kiddie Camp, the outdoor pool and other selected programs at the Benderson Building throughout the summer. The fitness center and the indoor pool will close on June 30. During the summer, the JCC will consolidate its administrative offices into the Holland Family Building.

Andrew Shaevel, a past board president who was involved in the planning process, said, "We are very committed to serving our members in both the city and in the Northtowns."

"We would like very much to recast the Benderson Building to meet the current and future needs of our community, while also operating the agency with financial integrity. The costs to renovate the existing building or operate it until a new building is constructed are just too expensive," he said.

Plans are under way to provide continuity of services in the Northtowns.. The plan is to move the early childhood program into Temple Beth Am on Sheridan Drive. The senior services program and the after-school program will move to adequate nearby facilities when ongoing discussions are completed.

In addition, an agreement with Planet Fitness has been reached to provide members with a minimum three-month free membership and significant discounts on longer-term memberships.

The JCC will start the planning phase of this process in early 2008 and will seek grass-roots community participation in the redesign of the JCC's new suburban site and in the capital campaign.