Survey raises possibility of 3-way shared campus

Two Clearwater congregations, Reform Temple B’nai Israel and Conservative Congregation Beth Shalom, along with the JCC Suncoast might one day share a campus if the idea proves feasible.

“Congregation Beth Shalom, Temple B’nai Israel and the JCC Suncoast would like to explore the idea of creating a shared campus where all three organizations could interact and benefit from shared resources and opportunities,” the preface to a survey emailed to Temple B’nai Israel members in December said. Similar surveys went to Beth Shalom and JCC members.

The congregations are both located on Belcher Road within a mile of each other while the JCC is currently working out of a rented space in north Clearwater, about another three miles away.

“While the vision for this campus is still being developed, conversations to date have focused on establishing a place where members of the three organizations (maintaining their independence) could come for religious services and education, social events, wellness activities and more,” the preface said.

Among the facilities and services being considered for the campus are sanctuaries for the two congregations, a large banquet room, a child daycare center, before-and-after school care, senior daycare, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, a wellness center, a library/media center, a youth center, a Jewish day school and offices for other Jewish agencies.

There is no indication where such a multi-purpose campus might be located.

Some of the goals for the campus would be to increase collaborative programming, create shared and enhanced social facilities, attract unaffiliated members of the community and increase youth involvement, the survey said.

“What we’re trying to determine is does this concept have merit? What would it need to provide and whether people think it’s a good idea,” said Todd Siegel, JCC president and development vice president of Temple B’nai Israel.

“The response (from all three surveys) was positive in every category and in particular the majority of respondents believe that the project warrants further exploration. This would be in the form of a feasibility study and some town hall meetings,” Siegel said in an email.

Beth Shalom Co-President Dan Krop said the survey was part of a long-term planning effort by the organizations and no decisions have been made. Krop and Mike White are co-presidents.

“We’re trying to gauge support in the community. We’re not committed to anything,” Krop said. He said he hoped there would be more collaboration between the organizations like the joint Purim party held last year by Beth Shalom and B’nai Israel.

Sue Heyman, immediate past president and current vice president for programming and events for Beth Shalom, said the campus concept has worked in other communities, citing Charlotte, NC, as an example. That city’s Shalom Park, a 54-acre campus, is home to 12 organizations, including Temple Beth El (Reform), Temple Israel (Conservative), the Charlotte Jewish Federation, the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Services, a library, a day school and a preschool.

“It never hurts to investigate your options,” Heyman said.

The Tampa JCC & Federation has a 21-acre multi-generational campus in northwest Tampa, which includes the Weinberg Village assisted living facility, preschool, JCC, Federation and Tampa Jewish Family Services offices.

In St. Petersburg, Menorah Manor, its Toby Weinman Assisted Living Residence, Philip Benjamin Tower senior residences, and Congregation B’nai Israel are contiguous off 58th Street North. Each has its own property and was built separately.