The Swampscott Senior Center on Boston’s North Shore was ailing.
Housed in an old Victorian house, the center had three flights of stairs and limited on-street parking.
Sometimes, only two people would show up for a meal.
A new, stand-alone senior center was not in the cards.
Meanwhile, the town’s public schools were overcrowded.
A new high school was needed.
Here’s how it happened.
Rather than compete for town funds, the high school and the senior center joined forces.
The representatives said yes.
Students and the senior center moved in with the opening of the 2007 school year.
The combined project required special zoning permits from the town.
The building committee and architect held monthly, often contentious, public meetings with neighbors during the lawsuit.
Mediation led to an agreement, which included adding a new playground to the high school/senior center property.
THE COSTS:The 193,500-square-foot school cost $54.5 million to design, construct and equip.
The senior center tab was $1.5 million.
The state provided a capital reimbursement grant of approximately $19 million to build the school.
The town paid the full-cost of the senior center.
It’s a civic asset and encourages other uses."
(For natural gas, the bill is divided by the square footage of each facility.)
Since many senior center participants drive, the town council requested ample parking.
On some days, there’s still not enough.
The center can accommodate 90 for lunch.
There’s a health clinic and administrative offices.
Many senior center members participate in a Friday tap class in the high school’s dance studio.
Twice a year, students help the seniors with their cell phones, computers and tablets.
Student athletes sometimes talk sports with the senior center’s men’s club.
Says Hurwitz: “We have 10 times the opportunities here than we did before.”
Sally Abrahms writes about caregiving, baby boomers, housing, retirement and aging-in-place topics.
Page published in January 2017
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