Anaheim Proceeds With Plans for Community Center : Development: The City Council agrees to hire an architect to design the first phase of the $19.4-million facility, which will serve various groups.

ANAHEIM — Less than a week after breaking ground for a new downtown community ice rink, the City Council on Tuesday moved ahead with plans for an ambitious $19.4-million community center, which would be three blocks away.

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The council unanimously approved the hiring of an architect to design the first $7.5-million phase of the facility, which will include a senior citizens’ center, a gymnasium, a playing field, meeting rooms and an arts center.

“It’ll be a true community center because of the variety of groups it will serve,” Mayor Tom Daly said. “The challenge is designing a building so that all the uses will be compatible.”

City officials are optimistic that the community center and the ice rink, which is a joint venture between the city and the Walt Disney Co., will help revitalize the aging downtown area, said Christopher Jarvi, director of parks, recreation and community services.

“Things are really rolling right now,” Jarvi said. “Both projects spur on additional development. As we bring more people into the area, it makes it more attractive for big and small businesses.”

Plans call for the facility to be built in five phases on both sides of Philadelphia Street between Center Street and Broadway as part of the Redevelopment Agency’s revitalization of a 60-block area of central Anaheim.

The architect, LPA Inc. of Irvine, will be paid $605,700 to design the project’s first phase and to prepare a master plan for the remaining phases.

Later phases will include construction of a YMCA with a swimming pool, a Boys and Girls Club, a second gymnasium and possibly a community theater.

The first phase of the project is being funded by federal, state and county grants, the sale of the existing senior citizens’ center, private grants and a $2-million insurance settlement.

Funding for the rest of the project has not been secured, but it will probably include private solicitations and grants, Jarvi said.

Construction of the initial phase could begin next year. No timetable has been set for the remaining phases, city officials said.