Lawrence Township officials have embarked on a building assessment of the former Lawrence Community Center at 295 Eggerts Crossing Road in preparation for a future use.
The Lawrence Township Council awarded a contract for $16,250 to consultant Clarke Caton Hintz to study the building and determine needed improvements.
The building assessment will include handicap accessibility, elevator requirements and locations, lighting fixtures, and kitchen and bathroom improvements, officials said.
Clarke Caton Hintz will prepare a report that documents the existing conditions, and make recommendations for repairs, maintenance and other kinds of work. It will include a cost estimate for the recommended work.
The Lawrence Community Center building had been leased to HomeFront. The Lawrence Township-based nonprofit organization provides food, shelter, clothing and other assistance to families in need.
HomeFront offered some of its programs at the Lawrence Community Center, but opted to move them to its expanded headquarters at 1880 Princeton Ave. The building at 295 Eggerts Crossing Road is now vacant.
The Lawrence Community Center at one time was known as the Lawrence Neighborhood Service Center and served some of the same functions, including recreational opportunities for young people.
The need for a community center in the Eggerts Crossing neighborhood was identified in the 1960s, according to a report written by Fred Vereen Jr., who grew up in the neighborhood.
The forerunner to the Lawrence Neighborhood Service Center and the Lawrence Community Center was located in a small building on Landover Road, off Eggerts Crossing Road. Land for a new community center was purchased and the building at 295 Eggerts Crossing Road was constructed.
“The center’s impact was immediate and profound. It became a place where residents could access essential services, engage in social and recreational activities and foster a sense of community,” according to the report.
While the socio-economic landscape of Lawrence Township has changed since the community center was created in the 1960s, the need for a space that encourages interaction, understanding and collaborative action remains, the report said.
The Lawrence Community Center, with the right leadership and community involvement, can continue to address contemporary issues and support the diverse population of Lawrence Township, the report said.
“As we look to its future, it is essential to honor the center’s legacy by ensuring that the Eggerts Crossing community and the Lawrence community at large remain at the heart of the center’s governance and operations,” the report said.
