Lights out at Fels

25598772

South Philly’s newest community center has become a casualty of the fickle economy, leaving many people who utilize the center’s services in the dark.

On Monday, the Samuel S. Fels South Philadelphia Community Center began closing at 6 p.m. on weekdays instead of at 9. The center’s owner, Caring People Alliance, also has eliminated Saturday hours.

The cuts were spurred by serious fundraising shortfalls and the high cost to run the three-year-old building at 2407 S. Broad St., according to CPA development director Fred Barfoot.

"We have a major need to conserve funds at the moment," Barfoot said.

The problem stems back several years to when CPA’s board of directors voted to construct the Fels Center rather than renovate the old Winnet Center at Broad and Shunk streets, the director explained. To pay for the new building, the board agreed to conduct a fundraising campaign.

But the economy took a downturn shortly after Fels opened in late 1999, hampering those efforts.

"In fact, the money was not raised in anywhere near the level that was essential to pay for the building," Barfoot said. "By the time they realized that they weren’t going to have the money, the building was already well on its way."

Fels cost more than $7 million to construct. Included in that bill were the expenses of constructing the building above the existing subway, designing it within the confines of the available space, incorporating a swimming pool and accommodating the existing Ritner Branch of the Free Library (now named the Fumo Family Branch).

To raise money for the operation of the center, CPA floated a bond, for which the agency now pays more than $200,000 annually in debt service, Barfoot said.

No matter how much money the Fels Center and CPA’s other programs bring in, Barfoot said it still would be not be nearly enough to cover the debt payment.

"And our fundraising has not been able to generate that kind of money either," he said. CPA’s primary source of income is contributions from individuals, companies and foundations.

The agency hired a consulting firm to study CPA’s citywide operations. A final report submitted to the agency last month included multiple money-saving recommendations, Barfoot said. The elimination of night and weekend hours was the only proposal that will impact the public, he said.

The expense of Fels has hurt CPA’s activities across the board. The agency also has cut evening and weekend hours at its two other community centers — West Philadelphia Community Center in Mantua and R.W. Brown Community Center in North Philly.


Members of the Fels Center were informed of CPA’s financial problems through a letter from the agency’s executive director, Arlene Bell. It stated that members who found that the new hours limited their use of the facility could apply for a refund of part of their membership fee.

An individual membership for a person age 25-55 was $35 a year, plus $120 annually to use the pool or the fitness center. The membership charge varies depending on age, income and the number of family members who join.

Bell added in the letter that the center hopes to resume extended hours in the future. Barfoot also called the changes temporary, but said the evening and weekend hours will not be reinstated until CPA secures funding for its debt.

Residents who are not members of the center, but participate in various activities held there in the evening, were shocked when they learned of the changes two weeks ago.

Helene Donofry said she found out when she took her 9-year-old son Devin LaCava to his Tuesday-night basketball league three weeks ago and was informed it would be the last game of the season.

"This is brand-new," said Donofry, of the 900 block of South Juniper Street, referring to the center. "They shouldn’t be closing anything."

LaCava joined the league in September after being referred there by the staff of the city-run Tolentine Center, 10th and Mifflin.

"It is a really great loss for the community and I don’t know what we do about it now," Donofry said.

About 200 children participated in evening athletic programs like basketball and hockey each week at Fels. The center also has been a meeting place at night for Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous as well as some civic associations.

Millie and Stanley Aros, both 59, from the 2300 block of South Rosewood Street, participated in an aquatic conditioning program run by Methodist Hospital at the center. Both have arthritis and the low-impact water exercises helped reduce their pain.

"I am very sorry to see the program go," Millie said, "I really am."

About 50 people participated in the class.

For now, Millie said, she has not heard of any plans to reschedule the class for an earlier time. Even if they did, she said she would not be able to make it because Fels closes at 6 p.m. and she does not get home from her job at Graduate Hospital until 5:30.

"What about the people who work?" Millie posed. "Why can’t they open this center late two days and leave those two nights open?"

Barfoot believes the new hours will "absolutely" drive members away, but CPA has no other option right now. The night activities are losing money, he said, and most people pay a nominal fee, if anything, to use space there.

"The sad thing is that we have so many exciting, fun things going on," Barfoot said, "and with a little bit of funds, our creativity is limitless." SPR