After one year and five months, the new $2 million clubhouse at Valencia Lakes is ready for its grand reopening.

On Sept. 10, the expanded, 19,000-square-foot clubhouse will open its doors to its community members, which voted two-thirds more than a year ago to go through with the expansion.

“It had been 10 years and we just decided to go ahead with the project,” said Jill Perna, a community board member.

More than 15 area firms and companies did the makeover.

Perna said the expansion included the breaking up of walls to add space, new furniture, the expansion of the pool room to three pool tables, adding another card room and adding bathrooms.

Despite the struggling economic conditions, Valencia Lakes residents knew it was time to get on with the job of rejuvenating the center of the community, Perna said.

George Glazer, the first president of the community when it opened 12 years ago, said it is not just the additional space that’s important but what is in the space.

“The clubhouse is the center point for the communities here,” he said. “People are drawn to it. For example, the card room is like the lifeblood of the community.”

Read more about this story in the Sept. 2 issue of the Boynton Forum.

Mike Rothman can be reached at mkrothman@tribune.com.