JCC Campus Renewed: An alliance of donors is infusing millions of dollars into the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center by purchasing the recently renovated JCC campus located at Leetsdale and South Dahlia St.
Rose Foundation Subsidiary Will Hold Property; Leaseback Deal Eradicating JCC’s Long-Term Debt
An alliance of donors is infusing millions of dollars into the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center by purchasing the JCC campus located at Leetsdale and South Dahlia St. The coalition — including the Rose Community Foundation, Mizel Family Foundation, Michael Staenberg and the Sturm Family — is purchasing the campus and leasing it back for $1 per year, eradicating its long-term debt.
Purchase of the campus will enable the Denver JCC to repay its $14.3 million in debt accumulated since the 1990s, plus put aside reserves for deferred maintenance needs, and provide for a financially sustainable future. As part of the deal, the current JCC Denver board has agreed to step down and a new board will be installed, chaired by Don Kortz, founder of the Rose Community Foundation and its first president and CEO.
The property will be held in a nonprofit subsidiary of Rose Community Foundation solely for the exclusive and perpetual benefit of the JCC Denver. The Foundation’s nonprofit subsidiary, will be chaired by Foundation Trustee Jerry Glick and comprised of volunteer real estate experts from the Rose Community Foundation Board. The deal is a 100-year lease agreement with the JCC Denver.
Best-Laid Plans: This schematic drawing shows the $50 million construction project planned at the JCC campus in January 2016. The plan fizzled when contractor bids came in above expectations and a campus renewal plan was launched in its place.
Programming Unleashed
“On behalf of our staff, outgoing board and membership, we are grateful for this unprecedented generosity and lifeline,” says Lara Knuettel, CEO of the JCC Denver. She has been leading the organization’s turnaround since August 2017. “This financial stabilization combined with new staff, a new board and renewed community engagement will propel the JCC Denver forward into a new era.”
New Board Chair Kortz adds, “I look forward to working with Lara and the highly qualified management team she has been building to ensure the JCC Denver continues to grow, thrive and serve even more community members with excellent programming for people of all ages.” The two agree the JCC Denver’s programs in early childhood education, family engagement, Jewish arts and culture; fitness and wellness, service to older adults and multi-generational community building is essential to the community.
“While the JCC Denver serves the broader community as a whole, it has long been a vital heart of — and portal into — the Jewish community,” adds Lindy Eichenbaum Lent, Rose Community Foundation’s president and CEO. “It is because of the JCC’s unique nature as a critical Jewish community asset that the Foundation is playing a role unlike any we have taken on before or will take on again. This new era of financial stabilization and leadership will unleash additional philanthropy from the community and allow the JCC Denver to continue expanding its diverse programming for the benefit of the community — from babies to older adults — for generations to come.”
Cool, Colorful Interiors: New paint, fixtures and lighting have given interiors of buildings at the JCC a cheerful, colorful look. Interior design of spaces provides an aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the J’s facilities for educational, cultural and recreational programs.
Renovated Campus
Readers will recall that as 2016 got underway the JCC announced plans to launch a $50 million three-to-five year construction program with plans to build a half-dozen new facilities on the campus (Chronicle, Jan. 2016). The massive plan included a new indoor tennis facility at the foot of the Greek Orthodox Church. Contractor bids for that project, however, came back significantly higher than expected and the Board decided on a campus restoration-renovation undertaking instead. Renewal and repair work in a variety of different areas throughout the interior and exterior of campus buildings were completed in 2017. Improvement to the campus grounds included redoing the parking lots. Parking spaces were made larger plus additional spaces added.
Renovation included creating an entirely new Early Childhood Center wing, which added five new classrooms. The existing wing was updated with new paint, fixtures, and lighting. One of the existing playgrounds also received new landscaping. Update to the exterior of campus buildings including painting, adding new signage and new landscaping. Sliding doors were added to the campus main entrance and pillars removed to open up the lobby-reception area. Improvement also included enhanced security, an updated heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system plus energy efficient lighting and new artwork.
Remodeling also took place in several areas of the Fitness & Wellness Center including renovating the men’s and women’s locker rooms, creating a new childcare drop-off center with access to an outdoor space, adding massage rooms to enhance wellness offerings, purchasing new state-of-the-art-cardio equipment plus creating a new group cycling room and updating the HVAC system. New backdrops, ceiling and LED lighting were added at the Tennis Center. The Center offers top-of-the-line tennis lessons, classes and leagues to every level of tennis lover. The spanking-new Aquatics Center has both inside and outdoor pools that are heated to keep swimmers cozy no matter what the weather.
Building Support
A grant provided by the Rose Community Foundation to the JCC Denver enabled the organization to complete a market study and business plan to support its ongoing sustainability. The market study revealed that the JCC’s eight program areas are competitive and have the potential to grow and enhance viability.
While this is a historic milestone for the JCC, both Lara Knuettel and new Board Chair Don Kortz, say they recognize they still have work ahead to build the confidence, trust, and support of members, friends, and partners. They believe, however, that this transaction is one step in the right direction.
“Our mission continues to be to create a vibrant, inclusive family and social gathering place that provides educational, cultural, and recreational programs that serve and strengthen the community, guided by timeless Jewish values,” the pair concludes.