Plans expected from architect this week
By: Emily Craighead
WEST WINDSOR The township administration expects a revised senior center proposal from an architect this week, township Business Administrator Chris Marion told the West Windsor Retirees Group on Monday.
The architect, a finalist among five, will include environmentally friendly elements to make the building addition an example of sustainable development, a priority set by the Environmental Commission and the Township Council.
"We’re optimistic that he will be able to meet the considerations that council has," senior center Director Lynne Thornton said.
During Monday’s meeting, Mr. Marion, Ms. Thornton and Health and Human Resources Director Robert Hary updated the retirees’ group on the project’s status and solicited comments from the audience.
"This has been a longer process than I think all of us would have liked," Mr. Marion said, attributing delays to the budgeting process. "We’re shaking every tree we can to get additional funding."
Nearly $1.2 million has been dedicated to the project, including a $100,000 grant from the Department of Community Affairs and $500,000 from the county. The township has committed $500,000 in its capital budget, and $95,000 is left over from the original senior center bond ordinance.
Ms. Thornton’s wish list for the center includes adding two classrooms, another larger room that could be divided, and turning the existing offices into a health suite.
Small renovations to the kitchen would also allow the senior center to offer meals to seniors through Mercer County’s Nutrition Project for the Elderly. Anyone older than 60 can receive a complete lunch for a suggested donation of $1. The program is available at senior centers in East Windsor, Hamilton, Lawrence and others. The township has not made a commitment to the program yet, Mr. Hary said.
The ideas seniors have for amenities the building addition should provide will be a part of the final plan, according to Ms. Thornton.
"I hope all of you will do a bit of dreaming so we can make a strong case through the architect" to include those amenities, she said.
Several seniors suggested adding a stage for the many presentations and performances the senior center hosts. Others agreed with Ms. Thornton’s request for additional classrooms, and said those rooms should have soundproof walls to accommodate sometimes noisy drama classes being held next door to bridge games.
Township senior Alvin Lerner said the design should create versatile spaces to serve various uses, from performances to weight training workouts or smaller classes.
"Everything should be as modular as possible," he said.
Several seniors stressed the need for careful oversight to ensure the project gets done correctly, as well as fiscal responsibility.
"We need to watch and talk to the architect when he lists materials," said Savin Roman, another township senior, emphasizing the need for quality, even at a slightly higher price.
In early discussions about the senior center expansion, the administration contemplated including space for teenagers and recreation programs. Council members, however, decided the expansion should serve primarily senior programming needs.
The center likely will continue to be available to community groups when the spaces are not needed for senior center activities.
"I see this building as our senior center, but also as a community asset," Ms. Thornton said.
Conditions for using the center will be defined through the administration’s ongoing review of township facilities.
"We’ve got to get our policies tightened up," Mr. Marion said.
The project is expected to move along more quickly in the coming months.
Following the final architect selection, township seniors will again be asked for their input as the architect draws up the concept design and cost estimates. Then, bid specifications will be developed and the council will award a construction contract.
Construction, which is expected to take nine months, could begin as early as this fall, according to Mr. Marion.