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Seniors’ Center issue may be settled at last

By Brad Hicks
Press Staff Writer
bhicks@johnsoncitypress.com

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Over the last few years, there has been much discussion and speculation as to where a new Seniors’ Center would be constructed in Johnson City.

Johnson City Mayor Jane Myron said that the Johnson City commissioners may put that issue to rest at tonight’s meeting. The commission will officially consider the use of the city-owned Memorial Stadium site as the destination for a new Seniors’ Center. While discussion of construction of a multi-generational community center there has been ongoing for months, Myron said the commission has yet to formally vote on the matter of using the site for a new Seniors’ Center.

Johnson City Manager Pete Peterson has said that a committee previously looked at more than 20 sites as possibilities for a new center. In September, the commission approved the construction of a new stadium on the campus of Science Hill High School, freeing up the property on which Memorial Stadium sits to be used for the construction of a multi-generational community center, which is to include a new Seniors’ Center and replace the aging Legion Street Rec and Princeton Arts centers.

Along with the site being considered, the commission will also consider the use of plans for a new Seniors’ Center previously completed by architect Tony Street. Myron said the commission will look at these plans, which were developed around four years ago, and how they fit into the multi-generational civic campus.

“So we’ve got a lot of the work already done,” Myron said of having Street’s plans.

Myron said overall reception to Street’s plans has been positive. Street said his plans include items such as a lobby area, game rooms, administrative offices, a gymnasium, a dining area and kitchen, exercise and aerobics areas, a stage and instructional spaces.

Street will be on hand at tonight’s meeting to answer questions from commissioners. Myron said commissioners may have to do some “tweaking” to the plans before a vote is made.

Myron said the commission is determined to see work begin on the Seniors’ Center component of the civic campus soon.

“That’s why we’re doing it,” she said, “to get that project off the ground and get it moving.”

The commission is also set to hear a presentation from Johnson City Schools officials regarding capacity issues and the district’s Learning Plan, hear a presentation from Washington County/Johnson City Animal Shelter Director Debbie Dobbs regarding a proposed spay/neuter ordinance, and consider the third reading of an ordinance to convey the city-owned property on which the Washington County Health Department sits to Washington County.