Teens in Lamorinda are still looking for a place to just hang out.

Despite efforts to create a teen center in Lafayette, Moraga or Orinda having hit a major setback, the nonprofit Lamorinda Teen Center is continuing to reach out to the community, hoping to find a home.

Adults and teens formed the group two years ago to create a place where youths could grab some food, play pool or table tennis, enjoy music or just hang out with friends.

That's sorely needed because there are few locations in Lamorinda that cater to youths, said Miramonte High School senior Austin Controulis, the group's teen leader. With no place to go, a party is often the only option.

"We kind of see the issue of alcohol and drugs in the community," he said, "and basically we believe that reason is because there's nothing to do here."

Thomas McCormick, an adult volunteer with Lamorinda Teen Center, agrees.

"There's really no place for young people to go to hang out on a Friday or Saturday night, or during the week for that matter," he said.

In January, the group thought they were close to having a teen center. They had plans to lease the basement of Europa restaurant in downtown Orinda, but those plans fell through when concerns were raised about the restaurant's proximity to BevMo, an alcoholic beverages store.

McCormick said it was unfair to assume the teen center would automatically create problems at BevMo. But a teen center near a liquor

"I think the objections were the siting and the logistics of it, not the concept," she said. "The concept of a teen center I support, we all support."

The issue of teen drinking has come under the spotlight in Lamorinda after the party-related death of a Miramonte High junior in May. But Controulis said it's not a new issue, and a teen center can help address it by giving youths a place to go aside from parties.

"We just think if kids had an alternate choice "... they might choose it," he said.

The group is now focusing its efforts on finding a new location. The old Orinda library is one possibility, and McCormick said one company has offered to donate portables if the group can find a site.

There has been some informal outreach to the other Lamorinda cities, but the group's efforts have primarily centered on Orinda. The would-be basement location was in Orinda; McCormick is the city's vice mayor, and on Nov. 3 the group will address the City Council asking for support.

Teenagers in Lafayette could support a Lamorinda teen center, said Lafayette Teen Program coordinator Donica Katayanagi. But during discussions about the Europa location, the city's Youth Services Commission — made up of teenagers — wondered if Lafayette teens would be willing to go to Orinda to hang out, she said.

"Everybody wants to have a teen center definitely, so I know it would make them really happy," she said. "I just don't know exactly what (Lamorinda Teen Center) would need from us in terms of support with it, and I don't know what the new location is."

The lack of a home doesn't mean Lamorinda Teen Center can't provide positive programming for youths, said Ben Couch, an adult volunteer.

For Youth By Youth, a teen-run group within Lamorinda Teen Center that Controulis also heads, has put on a dance and a battle of the bands over the past two years, and is currently planning a Tri-City-area dance.

"In terms of how we reach the community and how our program runs, I think that we can be active and doing good things this year," Couch said.