EAST PROVIDENCE — The current incarnation of the City Council got its most detailed look at the mayor's proposed Multipurpose Community Center at its meeting on Tuesday night, Sept. 19.

Erik Andrutis, of the city's owner project manager the East Providence-headquartered Peregrine Group, and David Andrade of Starck Architects made the latest presentation.

The most important piece or pieces of information gleaned were the projected current hard cost of the proposal.

Two different "conceptual plans," the words of Andrutis, were given.

The first one, $20.8 million, would see Mayor Bob DaSilva's initial concept, which was pegged at around $45 million, slashed almost literally in half both in cost and scale.

The revised vision — reduced in total square footage from approximately 62,000 to 22,000 — includes a full-sized gymnasium, a six-lane pool and four areas of classroom/meeting spaces. The gym could double as a "flex space" cross use for non-athletic events.

The other, at just around $8 million, what was called a "barebones" rendition, removes the pool entirely, while leaving the four rooms intact and reducing the gym to a half basketball court.

The changes were made, said Andrade, to make either or both concepts more financially "palatable."

Andrade said he and Andrutis appeared before the Council "trying to get some direction," adding both firms were "currently kind of in a stalled position."

Andrade said the administration and architects have moved off what he deemed was an admittedly "grandiose" initial concept of about $45 million.

To some extent, he said, though, that was done on purpose. The first draft was "much larger than intended." After interviewing the public, architects included just about every want of residents.

Both presenters agreed there were "a few key components" included necessarily based on the sources of funding.

The city currently has access to some $6.8 million in state and federal grants.

Three million was earmarked for the city through appropriations garnered by then United State Congressman David Cicilline. That funding has relatively few strings, if any, attached except for its use on a "community" center in a "low income census tract."

State monies in the amount of $3.8 million come with mandates for work force labor training, education and healthcare.

In addition, the administration's preferred site on the Senior Center grounds at the intersection of Waterman and Pawtucket Avenues, is tied to the funding based on its inclusion at the start of the application process. The Senior Center is located in a low-to-medium income area with access to public transit.

"At this point we're not sure in what way to move," Andrade said.

He added there were "timelines we're competing against," like when the money must be allocated and spent. Andrade called the bidding and contractual processes involved relatively lengthy, further increasing the need to expedite the situation.

A seeming majority of the Council expressed a desire to build the Community Center at the Pierce Stadium Complex at Fort and Mercer Streets. It was pointed out that neighborhood would meet the state's income parameters.

The Councilors expressed similar concerns about the concept and the location.

"I don't see an appetite for a public pool. It's a money pit," said Ward 4 member Rick Lawson, adding a "gym is an absolute necessity."

He was also first to note Tuesday a preference for the center to be located at Pierce, but was told the site would need significant water/sewer upgrades.

Later in the discussion Ward 2 member Anna Sousa quizzed the mayor about the "soft" or operational costs of running the Community Center, whether or not future Councils and administrations would have to include those funds in budgets.

DaSilva was slightly evasive, saying the plan is to have existing Recreation Department personnel man the building while utilizing existing and future grant monies to fund programs.

No action was taken by the Council on the topic. It is expected to discussed once again at the body's next meeting scheduled for Tuesday night, Sept, 26.