Senior Center

Background

On January 3, 2006 the City Council approved the preparation of a feasibility study for a senior center. Items Council directed the study to address are listed below.

• Develop criteria for site selection and make a recommendation of a preferred site.
• Develop the Senior Center Program. The Program statement should include type of activities and the anticipated scale of these activities. The Program statement should include the current programs and the interrelation of these current activities with proposed activities.
• Evaluate the facilities needed to support these activities.
• Make a recommendation concerning the operation of a proposed senior center.
• Evaluate potential operating costs and anticipated revenues for the proposed center.
• Incorporate public input in the above tasks.

The feasibility study was presented to City Council in March, 2007. Funding in the amount of $7.7 million was approved in October, 2007 for a city-owned senior center as part of an $88.6 million parks bond issue.

On January 22, 2008 the City Council authorized the development of a new Senior Center by approving the recommendation from the Council’s Public Works Committee.

Excerpt from the City Council January 22, 2008 Agenda

 “The Committee recommends that Staff be directed to engage in negotiations with Wake County to site a new Senior Center at the Whitaker Mill Community Services site on Whitaker Mill Road.

The Committee further recommends that Staff proceed with the design of the facility concurrent with negotiations. Staff will determine the best size for the structure based on programming recommendations made by the consultant. The center should not exceed 2 stories and 20,000 square feet in size. Also, in siting the senior center, there should be as little disturbance as possible to the trees and natural areas.

On March 18, 2008 the City Council authorized design services for a satellite center by approving the recommendation from the Council’s Public Works Committee.  

Excerpt from the City Council March 18, 2008 Minutes

 “The Committee recommends that Council authorize staff to proceed with design services for the Millbrook Exchange satellite center location in conjunction with the design services for the Whitaker Mill Center in order to maximize the available resources for these projects. This process is to include a minimum of three (3) opportunities for input from the entire senior population. It is understood that, where facilities are to be shared, the senior organizations have priority when it comes to use. The Mayor ruled the motion adopted on an 8-0 vote.”

Project Schedule

30% Design Completion & 2^nd Public Meeting            March, 2009

60% Design Completion & Final Public Meeting         July, 2009

100% Design Completion                                           November, 2009

Construction Completion                                             February, 2011

Status

7/9/08 – City Council authorized staff to work with HH Architecture and subcontractor, LifeSpan Design Studio. Council approved the design contract on July 1, 2008.

7/29/08 –The first of 3 public meetings will be held on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 3:00 PM at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, located at 2209 Fairview Road.

In addition, comments may be submitted at any point to parkplan@ci.raleigh.nc.us or by calling 807-5141.

Last Updated: October 2, 2008

For More Information Contact:
Stephen Bentley
Senior Parks Planner
Parks and Recreation Department
333 Fayetteville Street, Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27601
919-807-5287

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