MCC Roundup: $50K to Hire an Architect

The McLean Community Center board has voted to spend up to $50,000 to hire an architect to explore updating the center.

The center needs additional office space, rehearsal space and lobby reconfiguration, said Risa Sanders, chairwoman of the center's capital facilities committee.

Board member Robin Walker said she was concerned about spending money with no idea how much architects charge.

“It’s a matter a trust," Sanders said. "This is a figure to get started to bid out an architect.”

Board Chairman Kevin Dent said the amount approved should not be exceeded.

But Sanders said, “Given the scope of the job and the size of the building, this is a modest amount.”

Walker was the only board member to oppose the spending.

The 35-year-old community center building is 38,000 square feet. Last year the board installed new seats and upgraded the air conditioning.

Banner Across Chain Bridge Road

The board has been discussing putting a banner in downtown McLean near Chain Bridge Road and Old Dominion Drive to advertise community events.

Cost: $26,000 to build the poles on which the banner would hang.

Walker raised several questions, including who can have a banner, who makes sure it is properly displayed and who makes the schedules.

The board also questioned how it would hang and replace banners.

The community center board is borrowing the general idea from Vienna. Vienna, an independent town with is own mayor and town council, bought a cherry picker to erect and take down its banners.

July Fourth Fireworks

The fate of this year's annual McLean July Fourth fireworks display at Langley High School is still undetermined. The center's executive director, George Sachs, told the board the fireworks depend on whether supporters of installing turf on an athletic field at Langley collect nearly $1 million in the next few months.

If the money is raised, the construction of the new field would occur this summer.