An 80-year-old community centre is to be demolished to make way for more parking spaces.
Southfields Community Centre, in Leicester, was built in the 1930s for the Army and has since hosted events ranging from tea dances to judo classes.
However, in recent years, fewer groups have been using the building and it will now be demolished.
Rooms in the nearby Pork Pie library, a five-minute walk up Southfields Drive, will be redecorated to accommodate more community activities.
The sports centre next door will remain, and Leicester City Council also plans to spruce up the inside of that building as part of the £250,000 project.
About 14 extra parking spaces will be provided for the sports centre by the demolition.
Councillor Sarah Russell, assistant city mayor for neighbourhood services, said the council would save money in the long term by having one less building to maintain.
She said: "We have worked with people who use the facilities to come up with a project that provides improved and more accessible services.
"The proposals will also help ensure the long-term future of the Pork Pie building and the sports hall – which is very important in these times of financial crisis.
"I hope people take the time to look at the plans and share their views with us."
The only regular group at the community centre is the St Christopher's Friendship Group.
There are 37 regular members who are mostly elderly or have learning difficulties.
Janet Robinson, group leader, said she would welcome the move if the city council agreed to extend the kitchen at the library.
She said: "We're in discussions about the kitchen because we need to be able to cook for people.
"There's a good, big kitchen in the community centre but the one in the library is only about the size of a family kitchen.
"But we do understand the city council can't keep all the buildings open in this financial climate.
"There used to be more groups at the community centre – a judo group, a group for disabled people and one for people with dementia – but they've moved elsewhere."
Tina Parker, a volunteer who works with the group, said: "It's a shame the community centre has to close but I think people will be quite pleased when the work is done and we are in the library.
"There might be a bit of a problem with parking at the library, though."
Sheila Taylor, 83, who goes to the group meetings, said: "I like the library – I used to go dancing there when I was a teenager.
"It's big enough inside and if we get the kitchen extended it shouldn't be much different."
The work is due to be completed in 2014.
A small display detailing the work can be seen in the main corridor of the community centre, in Southfields Drive.
