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Community Corner

New Senior Community Center Inaugurated, But Not Yet Open

The ribbon was cut but the doors will remain locked until April on the new, $11 million Senior Center.

As Mayor Tony Santos along with City Council members and city officials unveiled the replica of the plaque, the new  state-of-the art San Leandro Senior Community Center, at 13909 East 14th Street was dedicated with a cheerful  applause. The ceremony took place on December 16, 2010, at 3:00 p.m. Mayor Santos thanked all those present  for their support to the new center.  

"All of you are here because you had  some connection in the  building of this center," he said.

The center features spacious rooms, an activities hall, kitchen and lobby. The center will also have a modern computer room. 

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Santos acknowledged among the invitees a number of people, such as former Mayor Sheila Young, former and present City Council members, Senior Commissioners, City Managers and city staff members who had given their time and talents to make sure this project became a reality.  

The present Senior Commissioners, George Tucker, Pat Free, Barbara Hamrick, Lucille Nobriga, Sandi Forese, Sylvia  J. Stadmire, Jan Woychesin, Michal Myers and myself, Bella Comelo, were all present. According to Chairman Tucker, they had pushed for the opening of the center for a long time. It is their wish come true.

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The center was almost completed in 2010 and was expected to be opened around July 2010. However due to the city's budget crises, the opening of the center was in limbo.

The budget crunch has since eased a little due to the passage of Measure Z, which will raise the city sales tax by a quarter-cent, generating money for the city. Still, city officials said the center would likely be run on a low budget, at least at first, with a part-time customer service representative, and an attendant to open the building.  

Still, the center's grand opening for the public isn't scheduled to take place until April, 2, 2011, with programs starting April 4, 2011. According to city officials, the center will be run by the city and not by a non-profit organization, as was speculated earlier this year. 

Asked for his comments on the Senior Center dedication, Santos said, "It was about time."  

The need for a senior center in the City of San Leandro was identified in 2002 in a Senior Needs Assessment Report prepared by the Alameda County Area Agency on Aging, and Senior Services, Inc. In 2002, Group 4 Architecture, Research and Planning Inc. was hired to create the conceptual design. The city broke ground on the project in 2006. 

The 21,000-sq. ft. building was constructed at the cost of $11 million. It is a modernistic building that will enrich the lives of the seniors of San Leandro by offering an array of social, recreational and health-related activities.

The new center is centrally located, with a Flex shuttle stop next door in front of the San Leandro Hospital. There is also ample parking.  

The center will also serve as the city's new Emergency Operations Center in the event of a large scale crisis such as an earthquake.

It will be available for private rentals and for other community events. Most of the classes and programs for seniors that are now held at the will be transferred to the new Senior Center.  

"The building took a long time to complete, but it is fantastic," said Carolyn Knudtson, Director of Recreation and Human Services.

The building features a number of "green" features, including daylight harvesting, storm water management, low flow water fixtures, use of recycled materials and water efficient landscaping. The city has applied for and anticipates getting the building qualified for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) certification, a voluntary green building designation. 

It is our wish that the walls of this wonderful building will vibrate with the joyful sounds of San Leandro seniors for years to come, as they pass their golden years in the company of friends and peers.

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