After two years of planning, the City of Auburn is ready to build it’s senior center, to be located on Wrenwood Drive behind the city park.
The 4,084 square foot facility will include an activities room, warming kitchen, restrooms and office space.
“This was one of my goals back 12 years ago and now my dream has come true,” said Auburn Mayor Dewey Roche, wanting a senior center for Auburn just as the other cities have.
Auburn has had two senior centers in the past, said Roche, but they died off with those who frequented them. He said he thought there were many in Auburn who would utilize a place like what is being built.
The city received a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in 2010 for the project. According to Roche, it has taken this long to finally get going because of cost. The city bid out the project a few times, but kept having to go back to the drawing board because it was too expensive.
“We finally have plans that are not very different from the original, and one we can afford,” said Roche.
The center will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to start with. Roche says he hopes that volunteers will come forward to help monitor the center while open, since the city does not have it in their budget to hire someone at this time. The city will paying for the utilities at the center.
Roche says he hopes someone will come forward and want to take on the role of director, a person who will plan events and information seminars at the center. He also hopes there will be some generous individuals and businesses that will donate furnishings for the center.
“I think it is all about entertainment and information,” said Roche on the success of a center such as this. Roche says he hopes that programs can be brought in that will be sensitive to senior needs. “I know people are going to want to come and play cards and checkers and sit around and remissness as well,” said Roche.
One of the best things about the center is location. The center is being built across from the town’s new senior apartment complex, that already has a waiting list.
“The center will be the nucleus for the area,” said Roche, who hopes that more apartments will be built in the future. There are currently 22 units.
Roche said C&C Construction were awarded the contract to build the center and he anticipates they will be moving dirt next week. The project should be complete within three to four months depending on the weather, said Roche.
“I’m anxious to get this,” said mayor Roche.
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