(L-R) NET Administrator Albert Zamorano, Park Manager Cathy Cottle, Bond Oversight Board Member Mariano Cruz, Kevin Murphy with Gulf Building Corp., KIDCO President Nilsa Velasquez-Martinez, Chairman Joe Sanchez, Mayor Manny Diaz, Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, Capital Improvement Program Director Ola Aluko, Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce President Luis De Rosa, Gulf Building Corp Vice President John Scherer, and Astorino, Inc. Architect James Centanni. Photo Credit: Jorge R. Perez/City of Miami

(Miami, Florida)—City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, and Commission Chairman Joe Sanchez today joined neighbors and community groups for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Dorothy Quintana Community Center at Roberto Clemente Park. As work begins, the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce and contractor Gulf Building Corporation are preparing to conduct a job fair for construction labor on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 10 am to 2 pm, at the De Hostos Senior Center, 2902 NW 2 Ave., to provide job opportunities to residents in the surrounding neighborhood.  

“The original Roberto Clemente Park Community Center was built as part of the ‘New Deal’ in response to tough economic times,” said Mayor Diaz. “So it is fitting that we stand here now ready to construct a bigger and better facility at a time when our community is once again in need of jobs.”

The Dorothy Quintana Community Center will consist of a new building of approximately 8,500 sq. ft. The building will include a 1,700 sq ft Social Hall, a divisible space to be used for community and family functions, a child play area, an Exhibit Gallery integrated into the main reception area, and recreational/tutorial spaces such as a computer lab, arts & crafts room, homework room, and fitness room. 

“I am pleased that the City has found a way to work with all of the Wynwood neighborhood groups to come up with a community center that everyone will take pride in,” said Commissioner Sarnoff. 

The new building will also provide public restrooms, covered terraces, and a playground area to serve the neighborhood activities and summer programs.  In addition, the building will house attendant spaces for storage, maintenance, meters and pump, as well as the staff offices for the Parks Department and the Wynwood/Edgewater Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET). Both will share common spaces such as the Conference Room, Break Room, Restrooms and Copy Room.  

“This community center has been a long-time coming,” said Commissioner Sanchez. “It is now time for this neighborhood to get the facility they have always deserved.”

In late March, Gulf Building Corporation was selected to conduct the construction work of the facility, as the result of a competitive formal bid process. The facility was designed by Astorino, Inc. Cost of construction for the new center has been estimated at $1.8 million with funding provided by Homeland Defense Neighborhood Improvement Bond Dollars.

*For more information about the Job Fair, or subcontracting and labor opportunities, please contact the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce at (305) 571-8006.