Northport celebrates re-opening of the refurbished community center

Northport residents are celebrating the re-opening of the Northport Community Center, which faced potential closure in 2023.

City leaders and community members gathered April 15 to cut the ribbon on the newly renovated community center at 2100 Park St. The ceremony was also designed to welcome the community back to the historic building, which has served Northport for about 70 years.

More: Northport rescinds plan to sell community center site for $1.1 million

"The (Northport City) Council identified funding to make the necessary repairs to the building, to reopen it with code-required improvements, as well as aesthetic improvements to bring charm to the area consistent with our downtown community," said Christy Bobo, who represents District 1 and serves as the council's president.

Last spring, a resolution was brought before the Northport City Council, proposing that the city sell the park site for $1.1 million to Beeker Property Group, which offered a project creating residential housing and a coffeeshop. The plan was to be voted on after a six-month due-diligence period.

The decision to sell the property was met with strong resistance from hundreds of Northport residents who wished to keep the community center and the connecting Heritage Park.

In late 2023, Bobo introduced a resolution to let the sale idea expire and preserve the community center instead. The council later voted unanimously to adopt this resolution.

The community center is now officially back open for business with renovated amenities and new programming options.

Bobo said once the decision was made to not sell the property, the focus then became renewing the building and making it better than before.

"The council previously agreed to open a six-month window to hear and review developer ideas to enrich and increase revenue for the property where the Northport Community Center sits," Bobo said.

Bobo said after that six-month due diligence period passed and after hearing citizens' wishes to keep the community center in the existing location, the council secured funds to renovate the building.

City leaders wanted to focus on beautifying the space while also maintaining its historic value, Bobo said.

Bobo said city leaders are also working on improving other buildings in Northport where members of the community gather.

"We are committed to getting these buildings repaired as well as beautifying them, adding features such as restrooms, play structures and landscaping to bring pride to the community," Bobo said.

Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Northport celebrates re-opening of renovated community center