(5/8/19) - Since 1923, Flint's Berston Field House has been a home away from home for many mid-Michigan athletes, including Mark Ingram and Claressa Shields.
Plans are in the works to give the nearly century old building a 21st century makeover.
Despite ambitious plans to renovate much of the building, I've been re-assured the classic look of the facility will not be touched.
"We are going to keep the aesthetics and overall view of the front of the building and most of the renovations are going to be taking the back end of it.
But, it's going to incorporate the architectural and the materials of the original building," said Bryant Nolden, Executive Director of the Friends of Berston.
A grant from the C.S. Mott foundation financed this rendering of the planned improvements to both the inside of Berston and behind the field house where additional land must be purchased.
Plans are to obtain additional funding totaling 14 million dollars which will go toward a football, soccer and lacrosse field, new gymnasium, fitness center and boxing area, just to name a few.
"I think this is going to be a great win for this community, a great win for the city of Flint, and it's going to show that we have a lot of gyms still left here in the community," added Nolden.
Expectations are that once financing is locked down, the first phase of renovations will begin sometime next year, with the overall project taking up to three years.