Columbus Avenue in Jackson Square could get indoor skating rink and rec center

What the building could look like.

Urban Edge yesterday submitted plans to the city to build the recreational facility at 1562 Columbus Ave. as part of its Jackson Commons mixed-use development.

The space was originally meant for a DYS treatment program, but the state agency pulled out of the project in 2008. The new center would allow for skating in colder months and indoor turf sports the rest of the year in a 39,000-square-foot building:

This is a unique site providing a wonderful opportunity to provide recreation opportunities for the residents of Jackson Square and the surrounding neighborhoods while providing a signature building to help brand this neighborhood as an emerging, vibrant and attractive place to live. The inherent attributes of the site dimensionally accommodates a regulation skating rink that is convertible to a turf field suitable for sports including, but not limited to, soccer, baseball practice, lacrosse, or any number of cultural events including concerts, markets or festivals. This internal diversity of use visually connects with the neighborhood and in so doing activates Columbus Avenue in a pedestrian oriented manner in keeping with the surrounding new developments.

Earlier this year, Urban Edge released a financial analysis that said the rec center could support itself - and provide low-cost recreation for local kids - in part by charging higher fees to people and groups from outside Jackson Square who'd want to use the state-of-the-art facility.

In addition to the recreation facility, Jackson Commons also calls for 438 new housing units - 291 designated as "affordable" - and community facilities, along with new retail and office space on 11.2 acres along Columbus Avenue.

• Recreation center filing with the BRA (2.5M PDF file

Via the Highland Park Community Association.