Harry Jennings, the mayor of Daytona Beach Shores, was able to sum up all the public reaction to the city's newly opened, $7.8 million community center with a single word.
"Wow!" Jennings said Wednesday morning.
"And that's a good, 'Wow,'" added Michael Booker, the city manager.
The newly built, 16,000-sf, two-level building will have a number of purposes, all in response to community desires as weighed through the work of a committee, surveys and input at meetings, Jennings said.
The building is being paid in full with money the city collected through a seven-year process. The only money the Shores borrowed was from itself, from a reserve fund, Jennings said.
"If we borrowed the money from a bank, it would have cost us $3.5 millon," the mayor said. "For each taxpayer in the Shores, it's probably about $40 a year in ad valorem (or property) taxes."
Booker said the buliding will feature a new City Council chambers and a community room on the bottom floor, and a grand ballroom upstairs that will be available for city events and hall rentals.
The activity room will feature classes for residents, including music lessons, cards and exercise; also, table tennis, pool and coffee.
The project also pays for five new, clay tennis courts, plus spaces for bocce ball and shuffleboard, and a new Veterans Park to the west of the building.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the building, 3000 Bellemead Dr., starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday.