The James Lemos Swim Center (Pictured above) will see some major changes over the winter, including a new deck near the dive pool, new shade structures and a redesigned registration office. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)

Swim season is winding down at the James Lemos Swim Center– the last day for recreational swimming is Sept. 30–, but when it reconvenes in the spring, swimmers could see some changes at their city pool. A renovation design is up for review at this Thursday’s Historic Preservation Review Commission meeting.

The James Lemos Swim Center was opened in 1947, but it has seen numerous changes over the decades. Among the bigger changes in recent memory include the installation of a new roof with a fascia trim and entry trellis on the building’s south side in 2009 and the construction of a photovoltaic car canopy parking lot in 2011. Now the city is looking at numerous structural and seismic changes as well as improving accessibility in the registration area.

Among the proposed changes are the replacement of two solid exit doors from the registration area with a double sliding glass door surrounded by an aluminum door frame.

“This will improve the overall view area from the office to the pool for additional safety,” Associate Planner Renata Di Battista said in a written report.

Di Battista also noted that the wall around the new door would have to be reframed, and stucco will be painted to match the building’s current facade.

There will also be changes on the inside of the pool as well. These include replacing areas of the deck surrounding the dive pool as well as adding three shade structures to the deck region between the dive and lap pools.

Despite the facility’s long history and its location within the Downtown Historic Conservation Plan area, the pool is not considered a designated landmark or contributor to the district.

Staff is recommending that the HPRC approve the design review after the project is deemed to be categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. Di Battista noted that the project was considered exempt from CEQA, and the application was completed on Aug. 11.

The HPRC will meet at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 24 in City Hall’s Commission Room, located at 250 East L St.

Sharing is caring!