Belmont Pool has now been PERMANENTLY closed.
PRESS RELEASE
February 4, 2013
Belmont Plaza Pool to Remain Closed; Plans for a Temporary
and Permanent Facility to be Discussed on February 12, 2013
"The City of Long Beach announced today that the Belmont Pool must be permanently shuttered to ensure the safety of the community.
"On January 10, 2013 the Belmont Pool was temporarily closed due to a draft Structural and Seismic Evaluation that indicated the facility was seismically unsafe in the event of a moderate earthquake. The pool was temporarily closed in an abundance of caution for patrons and staff while City engineers reviewed the draft analysis and inspected the facility to confirm the extent of its structural safety.
"Both the City’s Building Official and the City Engineer have now reviewed the final report and determined the Belmont Pool Natatorium, in its current condition, is a substandard building that is seismically and structurally unsafe.
"After considerable discussion and public input dating back to 2008, City staff will be recommending to the City Council a new permanent facility that balances both recreational and competitive swimming needs.
"The proposed facility would include a Natatorium in the approximate location of the existing Belmont Pool, and a new outdoor pool immediately north of the existing facility. The proposed facility will be able to host all competitive swim and water polo events that are currently hosted, while providing added water space to enhance the experience of all users. The preliminary cost estimate is $54 to $62 million, depending on added features, and construction will take approximately two to three years to complete.
"At the February 12, 2013 City Council meeting, staff will present the proposed project and seek the City Council’s direction on whether to proceed with the entitlement phase and environmental clearance of the project.
"On February 12, City staff will also be presenting the City Council with four interim options to address the closure of the Belmont Pool. City staff are recommending the construction of a temporary outdoor pool in the adjacent parking lot that could be ready in five to eight months, contingent upon Coastal Commission approval, and provide swimming facilities while a permanent facility is constructed. The cost of this option is approximately $4.2 million, and the temporary facility would be similar to the facility built during the 2004 Olympic swim trials in Downtown Long Beach.
"More information on the temporary options and the proposed project can be found at www.longbeach.gov/cityclerk under the February 12, 2013 City Council agenda."
Much discussion is taking place over the possiblity of a replacement facility. Please "Like" our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/RebuildBelmontPlazaOlympicPool) for updates and comments by others. Feel free to add your comments and questions, and we will get back to you as son as possible. This is moving really fast, with the City Council being asked to approve a conceptual plan on Feb. 12, that so far has some really good elements but, however, is lacking some very important elements.
Lucy Johnson
Elaine, sorry to disagree with you, but the link you provided is for Ande's original post on January 15, about the TEMPORARY closure of Belmont. The most recent comment on that thread was on January 23. My new thread is to inform eveyone that Belmont is now been PERMANENTLY closed. It will not reopen! Please carefully read the City's press release above. The City Council on Tuesday, Feb 12, will take up the issues of a temporary replacement pool outdoors and a long-tern solution of a new permanent replacment facility with both indoor and outdoor components. However, what has been presented to Council by City staff does not currently meet the standards that most of us in the aquatics community want to see.
If anyone on this forum wants to see the drawings (just prelinary sketches, not detailed archtectural drawings) that City staff has presented to the Council, contact me here or at lucyjohnson1@gmail.com and I will send you the appropriate pages of staff letter to Council. The entire 161 pages of that letter contain about 150 pages of the technical engineering report justifying the closure. I can post the letter here, but would prefer not to becuase of the file size.
Elaine, since you are familiar with the pool, please go to our Facebook page (see original post abbove), and "Like" it.
Bill Sive has been regularly updating this thread that already existed before you started a new thread: forums.usms.org/showthread.php Included in this thread has been the same information you are providing. Perhaps you two can join forces on the same thread as a united front, to avoid duplication.
Edit: I wrote this before I read ekw's post. But, I'm leaving it here anyway! :agree:
Elaine, sorry to disagree with you, but the link you provided is for Ande's original post on January 15, about the TEMPORARY closure of Belmont. The most recent comment on that thread was on January 23. My new thread is to inform eveyone that Belmont is now been PERMANENTLY closed. It will not reopen! Please carefully read the City's press release above. The City Council on Tuesday, Feb 12, will take up the issues of a temporary replacement pool outdoors and a long-tern solution of a new permanent replacment facility with both indoor and outdoor components. However, what has been presented to Council by City staff does not currently meet the standards that most of us in the aquatics community want to see.
If anyone on this forum wants to see the drawings (just prelinary sketches, not detailed archtectural drawings) that City staff has presented to the Council, contact me here or at lucyjohnson1@gmail.com and I will send you the appropriate pages of staff letter to Council. The entire 161 pages of that letter contain about 150 pages of the technical engineering report justifying the closure. I can post the letter here, but would prefer not to becuase of the file size.
Elaine, since you are familiar with the pool, please go to our Facebook page (see original post abbove), and "Like" it.
Former Member
Elaine, sorry to disagree with you, but the link you provided is for Ande's original post on January 15, about the TEMPORARY closure of Belmont. The most recent comment on that thread was on January 23. My new thread is to inform eveyone that Belmont is now been PERMANENTLY closed. It will not reopen! Please carefully read the City's press release above. The City Council on Tuesday, Feb 12, will take up the issues of a temporary replacement pool outdoors and a long-tern solution of a new permanent replacment facility with both indoor and outdoor components. However, what has been presented to Council by City staff does not currently meet the standards that most of us in the aquatics community want to see.
If anyone on this forum wants to see the drawings (just prelinary sketches, not detailed archtectural drawings) that City staff has presented to the Council, contact me here or at lucyjohnson1@gmail.com and I will send you the appropriate pages of staff letter to Council. The entire 161 pages of that letter contain about 150 pages of the technical engineering report justifying the closure. I can post the letter here, but would prefer not to becuase of the file size.
Elaine, since you are familiar with the pool, please go to our Facebook page (see original post abbove), and "Like" it.
Hi Lucy,
There are some additional updates on the pages following the first page of that thread (where it did indeed end on 1/23) - this link might work better: forums.usms.org/showthread.php
Hope that helps.