nothin New Haven Independent | Community House May Merge With Senior Center

Community House May Merge With Senior Center

If the town’s proposal for a new senior facility is approved Wednesday night at the Board of Selectmen (BOS), seniors will find their new senior center” will be an expansion to the Community House at 46 Church Street, a place they once called home. 

Before the Canoe Brook Senior Center was opened in 1975, senior activities were held at the Community House from 1962 to 1975. So this is in a sense returning home, but returning to a new home” said Alex Palluzzi, Jr., the director of the town’s recreation department. Palluzzi oversees the Community House.

Under the new plan there will be dedicated space for seniors on the second floor, including offices for personnel. They will also be able to participate in other activities within the community house, if they choose to. There will be an expanded kitchen, a senior café, a garden for seniors and a new elevator. 

First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove said in a prepared statement that This proposal gives our seniors increased space, safer access and more resources.” It is over 14,000 usable square feet bigger than Canoe Brook, with 10 acres of contiguous outdoor area for recreational and outdoor program area,” he said in his press release. 

The shared facility will replace the Canoe Brook Senior Center and will provide seniors with a gym and other recreational assets at certain times of day. Seniors will be able to enter the second floor directly from the Church Street entrance. 

Palluzzi told the Eagle this was a win-win situation because the community house is in need of renovation. We need to make our bathrooms ADA compliant,” he said of the federal law governing the disabled. And we were in need of an elevator.”

Sandra Vlock, the architect overseeing the project, said the new design would transform both the Community House and the Hammer Field area around it to create a space that is consistent with the 2008 Plan of Conservation and Development and meets the user needs identified for current and future seniors.”

Cosgrove and Vlock discussed the project with members of Voices for Branford Seniors today. Earlier in the day Cosgrove met with Palluzzi and Senior Center Director Dagmar Ridgway, to explain the new proposal. 

Palluzzi said he was happy that Cosgrove briefed him and Ridgway beforehand. I am 100 percent behind this project,” he said. A combined facility is the wave of the future,” he added in an interview.

As for parking, which might be a problem, Palluzzi said the skate park would be moved to make way for additional parking. 

Shared Space


It does sound promising — finally,” said Helen Laird, a member of Voices for Branford Seniors. 

Laird told the Eagle she liked the conceptual drawings she saw. I was quite pleased with it. The shared space is fine with me.”

Maureen Carr, a member of Voices for Branford Seniors, said she initially had mixed feelings about the shared space. For myself, I was not happy. This is not the space I hoped we would get,” Carr told the Eagle. But I understand the economics.”

Carr said after listening to Vlock, she warmed up to the idea. I think I’m going to be OK with this,” she said, adding that having outdoor space for gardens and walkways will be nice. She said compared to the Canoe Brook Center, It’s going to be way better.”

Carr said there will be some dedicated space just for seniors and also a cafe for lunches.

Seniors will also have access to transportation for trips to other facilities in town. 

Cosgrove said he will ask the Board of Selectmen to accept the report and refer it to the newly established Public Building Commission for the development and issuance of a design services RFP.” Cosgrove will also be making a formal request for funding from the Board of Finance for the design work. This will be a great way for the Public Building Commission to begin its important work,” Cosgrove stated. 

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