No Gym: Jelleff Renovation Plans Changed With Little Warning
By • February 10, 2026 0 490
By Francis Rienzo
The plot thickens. A change to the $28-million renovation plans for the Jelleff Recreation Center at 3265 S St. NW — a project that has been in the works since as early as 2018 — was made with little warning.
The planned auxiliary gym, meant to serve young people affiliated with the Boys & Girls Club and those outside of Ward 2, was axed. Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E found this out with only three days’ notice before the public meeting.
“We wanted it, but the budget unfortunately wouldn’t allow for it,” said Commissioner Kishan Putta. The newly renovated Jelleff Center will include a workout room, expanded locker facilities, meeting rooms, activity and game rooms and a full-sized basketball gym.
“The project is not being axed, just the one part of it, the second auxiliary gym. There will still be a very nice new gym,” said Putta. The gym will have two cross courts and bleachers.
Jelleff has not been renovated since the 1950s, when it was originally constructed. The Department of General Services webpage shows the design start date as Fall 2022. There are no construction start dates or end dates listed. While ground has not been broken, basic steps have been taken. “It is actually a complete demolition and modernization,” said Putta, “and we have a ways to go.”
The auxiliary gym could be added later if the budget allows. The project is running about $10 million behind, which led to the change in the initial plans. Many ANC members were upset by the lack of notice about the removal of the second gym. Commissioner Daniel Chao, who believes the problem lies with miscommunication, noted that the Department of Parks and Recreation had months to share information about the updated plans.
“Respect goes both ways between the community members and DPR, and I think that’s been lacking,” Chao said. “DPR has decided, without telling us, to take away a space that was unanimously supported,” referring to the auxiliary gym. “And they’ve made excuses.”
An ANC letter and resolution from February of 2025 states that despite the commission’s and community stakeholders’ requests for more information, updated design plans were not shared on the website or in meetings. Renderings and design plans were requested to be posted within a more reasonable time frame of two weeks.
The repeated delays have led to confusion about the start date. The Georgetowner reported on the “final” renovation plans in May of 2024, and many hoped that the construction could begin before the end of the year. The ANC got wind in September of 2025 that the auxiliary gym would not be included, alarming community members.
“I fought for more funding for the renovation,” said Council member Brooke Pinto, “and I am extremely frustrated by the lack of communication from DPR to the public.” Pinto held meetings with DPR and commissioners, including ANC 2E Chair Gwendolyn Lohse, to discuss the issue.
“I was told not to attend the meeting,” Chao said. “Gwen represented us, and really pushed them to reconsider.” Chao, who is asking for more clarification on the proposed revisions, pointed to the larger issue of transparency. He is also urging reconsideration, saying: “I don’t think it’s too much to ask to delay it by eight months to a year if there is an opportunity to procure more funds.”
According to Lohse, the second gym was the single most-requested feature, based on survey results. “The DPR story changed on what was driving these reductions, the level of financial reduction needed and the timeline on when the changes were made,” she said. Pinto was not consulted until after the plans had already been changed.
The Council has recommended that the plans move forward without the gym, as the renovation has been in limbo for years. Putta is more optimistic about adding the gym down the line, saying that “DPR and DGS are more than open to it.”
