HERC 1 Historical Information

Originally built in 1956 as the Homer High School, the HERC (Homer Education and Recreation Complex) is a two-story structure consisting of three distinct spaces (a lower level gymnasium wing, an upper level classroom wing, and a center two-story space that connects the two wings). It is located west of Pioneer Avenue on Woodside Avenue and the Sterling Highway. The property encompasses 4.3 acres, and includes an additional older two story former school building, which is currently used by the Public Works Department.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough conveyed ownership of the property to the City of Homer in 1998 to allow public use of the gym and associated restrooms.   After conveyance, the lower level was home to the Homer Clubhouse, a former program run by the Boys and Girls Club of the Kenai Peninsula.  The gym and another room on the lower level are currently used for City of Homer Community Recreation programs. 

The upper level classroom wing once housed classrooms and office space for the Kachemak Bay Campus of UAA (until 2011).  It also provided temporary office space for City employees during remodel work on other City buildings. The upper level is not currently utilized.

Over the years a variety of structural and feasibility analyses have been performed at the HERC (a) when the building was called upon to house a new activity, and (b) to assist the City and community in understanding how to more fully and cost effectively utilize the building.  

A compilation of these historical floor plans, remodel plans and feasibility studies are provided below to assist with gaining a better understanding of the HERC buildings and to contribute to the conversation about the HERC’s future.

In 2018, the City Council Created the HERC Task Force to consider the future of the building. The final report can be viewed here: HERC Task Force Final Recommendations Report

On January 28, 2019 City Council approved Resolution 19-006(A) to advertise a Letter of Interest in accordance with recommendations from the HERC Task Force. The Letter of Interest was advertised for the period of February 1-16, 2019 and the city received four responses.

On February 25, 2019 City Council held a worksession to discuss those four submissions and further develop a Request for Proposal for a third party to manage and lease HERC 1 including performing any necessary improvements required for occupancy.

City Council approved Resolution 19-014  at the March 11, 2019 regular meeting which provided for the advertising of Request for Proposals and guidelines to include in the proposal submission. The Request for Proposals was advertised for the period of April 15-June 24, 2019. There was one addendum issued May 29, 2019 to remove the requirement to attend a mandatory preproposal site visit and that a tour of the facility would be scheduled for any interested proposer. There were no proposals submitted in response for this advertisement.

At the June 24, 2019 City Council meeting City Manager Koester verbally advised the City Council that no responses were received and that they should consider scheduling some time in the coming weeks to discuss next steps for HERC 1. She noted in her City Manager's report that there is deferred maintenance considerations at the facility and the facility is reaching a critical tipping point if the building is to be preserved.