BY MATT HERSH
A plan to create extra space for exercise and dancing at the Ingram Senior Center has been delayed.
The plan to create a 1,500-square-foot addition to the building was agreed upon in June by town officials who said it would help accommodate the growing number of senior center members.
Senior center director Patti Drelick said a portion of the space would be used for a multipurpose room where exercise classes could be held.
The rest was slated to be used by ServiceLink, a state agency that helps connect senior citizens with resources, including caregivers and prescription medication.
“They were a perfect fit for us,” Drelick said.
However, due to a change in ServiceLink’s operating policies, the expansion plan has hit a stumbling block, Drelick said.
When the process for the expansion began, the architect’s plans designated about 700 square feet for ServiceLink but now the agency requires more room to operate.
Drelick said a new design for the expansion will have to be explored.
“We’re not really delayed,” she said. “We’re just in a revised process.”
The next step is meeting with an architect to see if a new schematic can be designed that would provide enough space for ServiceLink while still allowing the center’s needs to be met.
Drelick said this process will likely take several months but she’s hopeful the plan will move forward later this year with ServiceLink moving into the building.
“If there’s any chance we can accommodate ServiceLink, that’s advantageous to our residents,” Drelick said.
If space for ServiceLink cannot be worked out in the new plans, other options, such as a satellite building somewhere nearby, are being explored, Drelick said.
Whether or not the state agency ends up moving into the center, the addition will provide much-needed room for the center’s population, which is close to 1,000.
Currently, some classes are held in the facility’s multipurpose room, which is connected to the dining hall. The overuse of this room has caused significant wear and tear on it, Drelick said.
Expanding the building will also likely change the layout of the facility, with the administrative offices and the exit changing locations.