After Years-Long Wait, New Senior Center Set to Open February 3

Following years of planning, fundraising, and design and engineering work, the new Traverse City Senior Center is set to open its doors February 3. Construction of the $10 million waterfront facility on East Front Street – which broke ground 15 months ago – is almost complete, with a certificate of occupancy expected next week. Leaders say they’re excited for the expanded opportunities the property will offer both area seniors and the public as a city park.

New Senior Center Network Director Lacey Edgecomb appeared before Grand Traverse County commissioners Wednesday to give an update on the facility (former director Michelle Krumm left her position in August). While the City of Traverse City owns the Senior Center land and building, Grand Traverse County manages its operations and programming as part of the countywide Senior Center Network. The two municipalities signed an updated agreement last year for the county to occupy the facility through at least 2032, which mirrors how long the current Senior Center Network millage is in place.

The new facility is more than triple the size of the old Senior Center, increasing available space from 5,780 to over 18,114 square feet (including exterior spaces like patios). Amenities will include a covered drop-off area, green roofs, improved beach and restroom access, new tennis/pickleball courts, improved shuffleboard courts, and a commercial kitchen. The building has been oriented to the north to open park space and views of the public beach from Front Street. County Administrator Nate Alger, who toured the facility during construction, called it a “fantastic building” and cited the covered outdoor porch outfitted with planned rockers facing Grand Traverse Bay as a particular highlight.

Edgecomb says a standout for her is the “variety of space," which will allow more concurrent programming and a consistent layout to be preserved. That includes a “resource room that can be used for arts and crafts, a dedicated exercise space, the dining area, and a lot of bayfront windows for cards and games alongside the dining room,” as well as recreational offerings like table tennis and a pool table, she says. The commercial kitchen could allow the Senior Center to start offering cooking classes. Most amenities will be ready for the opening, though work on some outdoor improvements is expected to continue this spring.

Though eager to open, officials decided to wait until February 3 so they could use the month of January to move in furniture and staff – at least three of the Senior Center Network’s eight staff are expected to be housed in the building – and set up IT/tech systems so everything is running smoothly by the launch. A larger city-county grand opening celebration is planned for April with the hope better weather might accommodate both indoor and outdoor activities.

The total estimated project cost – including $411,224 in architectural and engineering services – is $10,035,499. Environment Architects oversaw the design. Commissioners voted in 2023 to award a $6,853,590 construction contract to Hallmark Construction and a $1,895,685 contract to Elmer’s Crane and Dozer for site work. The project budget also includes $260,000 for furnishings, $175,000 for kitchen equipment, and $90,000 for environmental costs, among other expenses. Major sources of funding included a $700,000 state grant, $500,000 in initial city ARPA funding, $250,000 from the county, and over $345,000 in city fund balance and donations.

On Monday, city commissioners voted to allocate another $192,585.64, using up the last of the city’s ARPA funds before a year-end obligation deadline. City Manager Liz Vogel said that as of Monday’s meeting, there was an approximate $512,000 funding gap to close out the Senior Center project, with the new ARPA allocation bringing that down to approximately $320,000. “The city commission will have to look for some other sources, whether it be general fund or other sources, to shore up that gap – but it reduces it further,” she said.

City Commissioner Tim Werner noted the project has “taken many years” and reflects investment from numerous public and private sources, showing significant “participation” in bringing the new facility to life. He said the spring ribbon cutting will allow the public to “see the wonderful new facility” and potentially spur more donations, particularly if naming rights or other donor/sponsor opportunities are available. Mayor Amy Shamroe echoed those remarks, noting that the $7 million state allocation gave some the “perception there was no more funding gap.” Groups like the Friends of the Senior Center are still able to take donations for the facility, she noted.

Edgecomb told county commissioners that both staff and seniors – who have been scattered across a variety of other locations during construction – are “looking forward to getting back into one building” and consolidating programming in a consistent communal space again. Once open, the Traverse City Senior Center will operate Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, though staff hope to eventually explore additional evening and weekend programming. Rentals are another possibility in the future, though Edgecomb says the agreement with the city stipulates holding off on those for now.

Senior Center Network membership is open to those between 50-59 for $10 annually or free for 60+ in Grand Traverse County, with seniors in neighboring counties like Benzie, Leelanau, and Antrim able to join for $50 annually. County Commissioner Ashlea Walter also reiterated Wednesday that the Senior Center property is a city park and beach and thus open to the public. “Everybody is allowed to use the park space,” she said.

Edgecomb also notes that while seniors are excited for the new facility, the Traverse City Senior Center is just one of five locations across the Senior Center Network, including sites in Acme, Fife Lake, Interlochen, and Kingsley. “The Traverse City location will always have more resources and this huge building,” she says, “but our other sites are just as important, so we want to keep that energy going across the entire network.”

Pictured: New Traverse City Senior Center nearing construction completion this fall