New report sought for Dayton Community Center

A proposal for a new structural report on the Dayton Community Center by an engineer more familiar with historic buildings will be brought before the Lyon County Commission at their next meeting.

Lyon County Engineer Dick Faber said Comstock Historic District Administrator Bert Bedeau suggested Melvyn Green and Associates of Torrance, Calif., was better able to suggest less costly methods of restoring the 90-year-old Dayton Community Center.

Green and his company have restored the Carson City Mint, the Bluestone Building in Dayton and are working to restore the Mineral County Courthouse.

The Dayton Community Center was closed Oct. 19 after a report by Roger Hyytinen noted numerous structural deficiencies and said it would not stand up in a major earthquake.

Hyytinen said it would cost between $250 and $350 per square foot to completely restore the 6000-square-foot-building, or $2.1 million.

Commissioner Bob Milz reminded Faber that before a building in the historic district could be demolished, it had to get the district's OK. He supported getting a second opinion from Green.

"I don't believe the building will have to be demolished," Faber said. "But to leave it empty doesn't do any good either."

Hyytinen has billed the county $2,800, but County Manager Dennis Stark said the engineer was prepared to reduce the amount. Green's proposed fee would be $4,000.

Faber said a 10,000-square-foot simple steel building would cost about $400,000, including the interior. He said it could be built on county land near Como Park.

Shortly after the report was issued, the community center was closed to large groups. The organizations with offices there, the Central Lyon Youth Connections and Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey Counties, are looking for alternative space.

Faber said he allowed the organizations to stay temporarily because five or six office staff can exit the building quickly, unlike large groups of people.

• Contact Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or call 881-7351.