VENICE : New Youth Club to Be State-of-the-Art

Construction will begin this week on a new Boys & Girls Club of Venice building to replace the dilapidated one on Lincoln Boulevard.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the James Collins Youth Center, named after the chairman of the board of Sizzler International, is scheduled for Thursday.

The club, founded in 1968, offers sports, theater and other activities for youths 11 to 17. The club serves Venice’s Oakwood neighborhood.

“It’s a great place for kids to do things in a safe environment,” said Collins, who donated $300,000 toward the project.

“People saw the need to respond to the gang problems in this community. The more we can work with these kids on a positive basis, the more these kids can stay out of trouble,” said founder David Mandell.

The 29,000-square-foot center will include a gymnasium, theater stage, game room, ceramics area and photography room.

It replaces the current center, which was fashioned from two one-bedroom apartments and a four-car garage.

“The old center is in total disrepair,” said Mike Wise, president of the club’s board of directors. He said the club still needs to raise about $1 million to reach the $3.5 million needed to complete the building.

Construction is scheduled to take up to 18 months. In the meantime, club activities will take place at the Westminster Senior Center in Venice.