The Town of Hot Springs invites residents and community members to participate in an upcoming community input session on the future design of the Bill Whitten Community Center and historic Old Jail building. The session will take place during the town’s regular Thursday recovery meeting on March 19th at 11:00 AM, offering an opportunity for the public to share ideas about how these important civic spaces can serve the community for generations to come.
Meeting Details
What: Community Center & Old Jail Design Input Session
When: Thursday at 11:00 AM
Where: Hot Springs Community Center (Current Town Hall) 43 Andrews Avenue
Who Should Attend: Residents, business owners, and anyone interested in the future of Hot Springs
About the Session
The session will include members of the Appalachian Design Center (ADC), a regional program that connects communities with volunteer architects, planners, and design professionals, and Rebuild Hot Springs, the non-profit leading much of the recovery work in town. ADC team members will attend the meeting to listen to community ideas and gather input that will inform early concept designs for the buildings.
The Community Center and Old Jail buildings have long played a role in the town’s civic life. Community input will help guide how these spaces can be restored and adapted to meet current and future needs — including gathering space, community programming, and potential opportunities such as co-working space, small business support, and flexible community uses.
Hot Springs Town Administrator, Hassena Kassim, emphasized the importance of community voices in the design process:
“These buildings belong to the people of Hot Springs. As we rebuild and plan for the future, we want the ideas and priorities of residents to shape how these spaces are used.”
The discussion will explore potential uses for the buildings, opportunities to preserve the historic character of the site, and ways to improve accessibility, resilience, and functionality for community use.
The project builds on the town’s broader commitment to preserving historic civic assets while strengthening community infrastructure. Current rehabilitation efforts across town emphasize restoring historic features while incorporating resilience improvements and accessibility upgrades so that these buildings remain durable public spaces for decades to come.
Community members are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and share their perspectives. Feedback gathered during the session will help guide the concept designs that the Appalachian Design Center team will develop in the coming months.
Additional opportunities for input will be announced as the design process moves forward.