Senior Center Project
City of Traverse City | 2023
PROJECT INTRODUCTION
Providing Healthy & Active Social Interactions
The community has been expressing interest in a new Senior Center for some time now. This center could provide important services to older adults, promoting healthy and independent living. The City has a strategic goal of improving quality of life through social interaction, which a rebuilt Senior Center could help achieve.
After years of planning, the City of Traverse City’s Senior Center rebuild project is becoming a reality with the approval of the construction agreement from the City Commission on Monday, August 21, 2203.
BACKGROUND
In 2018, the City of Traverse City and Grand Traverse County formed an Ad Hoc Committee to determine future reconstruction of the Senior Center. The partners engaged local firm, Environment Architects, for professional services for design and construction of a new Senior Center.
In 2020, the project was estimated to cost $5.6 Million. In 2022, an Ad Hoc Committee was formed to discuss the future of the Senior Center and explore funding options. These discussions included a local millage, capital campaigns, and grant funding. The preliminary estimate due to rising costs of construction and materials, has exceeded $10 Million.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Community outreach through the Senior Center Network and the Friends for the Senior Center organization have been ongoing. Most recently, a group of active seniors within the network were engaged to review current design and interior features. City staff sought input on everything from floor materials to the number of pickleball courts. Additionally as part of these meetings, the City had participants vote on possible color schemes for the final design.
In 2022, Grand Traverse County conducted a community wide survey for the use of $18.2 Million in ARPA funds. The number one critical infrastructure need identified was the Senior Center.
MOVING FORWARD
The project saw a major boost in 2022 when a $7 Million allocation from the State of Michigan was provided.
The City has worked with Environment Architects since that time to refine design elements and to issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) July 14, 2023.
The total cost for all elements of the project is $10,035,499.
PROPOSED TIMELINE OF ACTIVITIES
July 14, 2023
Final Designs Completed
July 17, 2023
Request for Proposals Issued
August 4, 2023
Deadline for Proposals
August 21, 2023
City Commission to Consider Recommended Contractor
Late August 2023
Pre-Construction Anticipated to Begin
September 2023
Construction Anticipated to Begin
PROJECT ELEMENTS
Square footage will increase from 5,780 to over 18,114 (including exterior spaces). The building will be oriented to the north to open park space and views of the public beach from Front Street, and will include exterior covered spaces to maximize the outdoor opportunities and the views along the shores of West Grand Traverse Bay.
- Building Orientation to Maximize Views
- Increase Square Footage
- Covered Drop Off
- Covered Patio
- Segmented Spaces
- Green Roofs
- Pervious pavement elements
- Improved Access to the Beach
- Restroom Access for Public Beach
- Traffic Calming Elements
- New Tennis/Pickleball Courts
- Improved Shuffleboard Courts
- Commercial Kitchen
Future Implementation
The goal of rebuilding the Senior Center will require planning for various project elements, some of which may be implemented at a later time due to funding constraints. Fortunately, initial planning has identified cost savings for certain elements, providing some relief in the budget.
- Covered Drop Off
- Tennis/Pickleball
- Geothermal + Limited Snowmelt
- Barlow Street Sidewalk
- Provide Asphalt Shingles in lieu of Metal Standing Seam Roof
- Green Roof
- Pervious Pavers
- Furnishings
- Commercial Kitchen Equipment
SUSTAINABILITY
The project is meeting a number of goals and objectives that have been prioritized by the City. Specific features will provide a more sustainable future for all by contributing to the improvement to individual and public health, increasing more active lifestyles, cleaner air, improved water and soil quality, and less reliance on fossil fuels.
Decreased Fossil Fuel Reliance
The project goal is to implement building electrification and shift the movement away from fossil fuels, such as gas, and toward clean electricity.
Improving Stormwater Management
Due to the current aging infrastructure, the project will improve stormwater management due to the use of pervious pavers, green roofs, and an improved stormwater infiltration system and collection system.
Efficiency
Energy efficient elements such as low flow flushing toilets that use less water, lighting, and windows will be incorporated.
BUDGET
To achieve accurate cost, it is necessary to receive proposals through the Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Currently, approximately $8,100,000 of available funds have been identified, which include a commitment of City of Traverse City funds in the amount of $500,000 and a $7,000,000 allocation from the State of Michigan. The project has a funding gap of $2,500,000.
The City has identified various funding sources and intends to submit an application for a $2 million Michigan Community Center Capital Project Grant, pending approval from the City Commission on August 21, 2023.
Total Project Costs
$10,035,499
Total Estimated Project Funding
$8,100,000
Total Project Funding Gap
$1,935,000
PROGRAMMING POSSIBILITIES
With the new Senior Center there is an increased capacity for indoor and outdoor programming. The larger room sizes enable programming classes to be larger and offered more frequently.
- Increased access of hot lunches provided by Meals on Wheels
- Multipurpose rooms for new expanded wellness programs and exercise
- Meeting spaces for skills learning, education and social gatherings
FLOOR PLAN
The will include several spaces to accommodate a wide variety of uses.
