Brick Community Center timeline 1999 - Brick officials propose building an indoor recreational facility that would include an aquatic center and two ice rinks, with two separate facilities designed to be located on Chambers Bridge Road. The firm Entersport Capital Advisors approaches officials with a plan to build an indoor soccer facility that would span the gap between the aquatic center and the ice rinks. The plans became the centerpiece of Brick's "Vision 2001" project to redevelop the Chambers Bridge Road corridor into a town center area. Entersport Capital does a feasibility study free of charge. 2000 - The township buys 23 acres of land behind the Brick post office on Chambers Bridge Road office for $2.1 million for a proposed community center. 2001- Brick forms Brick Recreation and Community Center, Inc., (BRCC), a non-profit corporation. BRCC was formed to finance construction of the recreational facility with proceeds from tax-exempt bonds issued by the Mercer County improvement Authority. Township officials decide on Community Sports Partners, LLC, to manage the day-to-day operations of the facility once it is built. An August 2001 groundbreaking is planned. 2001- The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the subsequent economic downturn end the relationship between the township, Entersport Capital Advisors and Community Sports Partners. Township officials re-evaluate the goals of the facility and decide to focus on a "community and recreational" center. 2002 - Township hires KBA Architecture, Millville for $40,000 to do a community center feasibility study. KBA estimates it would cost over $25 million to build a community center between 125,000 to 150,000 square feet in size. 2003 - Township officials purchase the former Foodtown site on Route 70 for $6.1 million, with the intent to build a community center there. 2006- Council hires KBA on June 27 to update the financial section of the Brick Township Community Center Feasibility Study for $4,650. This time the report does not focus on what particular site would be used, but on financial issues such as revenue and operating costs. It also proposes increasing the size to between 145,000 to 170,000 square feet. The price tag for the project rises to $33 million. 2006- Councilman Stephen C. Acropolis announces on Oct. 26 that plans to build the community center on the Foodtown site are "dead in the water" because of increasing traffic congestion on Brick Boulevard. 2007 - Council President Stephen C. Acropolis announces in January that township officials have found a new site for the proposed community center. But he declines to release the location because the township was still waiting for appraisals figures on the property. 2007 - Acropolis announces in mid-July that the township will buy the Ocean Ice Palace and 13.34 acres of land on Chambers Bridge Road for $5.45 million. The township will sell the Civic Center property across the street - now appraised at $2.8 million to $3 millionthat it purchased for $1.2 million in 2000. The proceeds will be put towards the Ocean Ice Palace purchase. Plans call for township recreation offices to be moved to office space inside the landmark ice rink and senior services to be relocated to the site. 2007- The Township Council votes 6-1 to introduce a $5.45 million ordinance to buy the landmark at 167 Chambers Bridge Road. The property also includes a 25-yard pool and a dormitory. 2007- The Township Council on July 24 decides to table the second reading of the bond ordinance to purchase the property until the Oct. 23 meeting. The state Department of Community Affairs' state Local Finance Board declines to give township permission to waive the $275,000 down payment on the property until the township audit is complete. Mayor Daniel J. Kelly and Councilwoman Kathy Russell call for a referendum question on the purchase to be placed on the November ballot. Township Attorney Jean Cipriani says the timing for a referendum is inappropriate, since the township and the seller are still in negotiations. The public comment is hurting the negotiations, Cipriani says.