Herzl-Ner Tamid, the French American School of Puget Sound and the Stroum Jewish Community Center (SJCC) are beginning a long-range planning process that will help their respective organizations update their facilities and plan for the future.

Two of these facilities, the SJCC and Herzl, are roughly 50 years old and the buildings carry significant maintenance and operations costs for their non-profit organizations. Their long-term goal is to invest in the facilities so as to better serve the needs of their respective members, while working collaboratively with the Mercer Island community.

As such, the SJCC and Herzl are beginning a process with the City of Mercer Island to consider a new land use designation called a Private Community Facility zone, which will unify the fragmented zoning under their properties. This designation could allow these organizations, and others like them, to plan mission-appropriate updates and maintenance to their facilities in a collaborative and responsible way within the neighborhood. They are hosting two open house events next week to begin a dialogue with their neighbors about this request and to answer questions.

To hear about this potential new designation, they are inviting neighbors, the public and nearby businesses to join one of the two community meetings hosted by their three organizations. The meetings are on Monday, July 16, 9:45 am 3700 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island, or at 6 pm, 3801 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island.

For more information, contact Debbie Newell, Debbien@fasps.org, Donna Peha, dpeha@comcast.net, or Amy Lavin, Future@sjcc.org.