Building Being Remodeled To House Youth Center

A commercial building that was condemned by the health district several years ago is being resurrected as a youth center in the East Central neighborhood.

The interdenominational Youth for Christ organization plans to open the East Central Campus Life Center later this month to serve mostly younger children in the neighborhood.

The two-story structure next to Horseman’s Foods on Fifth Avenue between Fiske and Haven streets is being completely remodeled for the youth center by owner Ricardo Rubio.

Its appearance will be upgraded with a new awning, a mural of children on the west wall and flower boxes below the upper-level windows.

Plans call for housing the youth center on the bottom floor and using upstairs apartments for staff members and low-income residents.

Project supporters are asking the city for a special permit to operate the mixed-use building as a residential hotel. A hearing is scheduled Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at City Hall before the hearing examiner.

The youth programs are going to focus on helping children develop goals and self-esteem. The center will offer resources such as job skills and a computer connection to the Internet.

“We are trying to build life skills, character qualities,” said Rick Kienholz, executive director of Youth for Christ.

“Our purpose isn’t to watch the kids. Our purpose is to work with them.”

Kienholz said the center will target mainly grade school and junior high age children, but will also bring in high school students to work as staff members. One program will be held in the afternoon for younger kids, and another in the evening for older students.

Children must join the youth center and comply with its rules to participate in the programs, Kienholz said. The membership rules will help provide a measure of control and encourage a safe environment.

Plans call for buying a vacant lot next to the center and turning it into a small playground that would be open to neighborhood kids when not being used by the youth center.

Last spring, supporters of the center met with neighborhood leaders at the East Central Community Center and won their support.

Kienholz said he wants neighbors in the area to feel like the center belongs to them. In exchange, he hopes the building won’t be targeted for vandalism like other structures in East Central.

Architect Glen Lanker, who is designing the center, said the 1915 building operated as a boarding house and later became a reputed brothel.

After falling into disrepair, health inspectors condemned the building several years ago and it was boarded up.

“It’s had quite a checkered past,” Lanker said.

During remodeling, workers uncovered structural problems, including some rotting timbers and weakened masonry walls. Making additional reinforcements has slowed the opening of the center from its original schedule in early July.

Lanker said the owner of the building is offering a low-cost lease to Youth for Christ.

Similar youth centers are operating in Colville and Kettle Falls, Wash., and have helped reduce juvenile crime rates in those cities, Kienholz said.

Youth for Christ currently offers a program called Positive Activities for Awesome Kids at Bemiss Elementary School.

, DataTimes