Council agrees to expand senior center

Andrew Glazer

COSTA MESA -- With its aerobics studios, medical clinic and computer

classes bursting with spry senior citizens, the City Council decided it

was time to enlarge the city’s senior center.

But while the council agreed the 19th Street facility does need more

space, it asked senior center officials for specific information about

how they would help share the cost of construction and fund the expanded

programs.

“We have serious questions before we commit our dollars, since the city

owns the building,” Councilwoman Libby Cowan said Thursday. “And we want

them to understand that the center will not be fully funded by the city.”

Alan Meyers, the center’s executive director, asked the city for

$500,000. He said the money -- along with $250,000 to be raised by the

center’s grant writers -- would help fund the center’s much needed

7,000-square-foot, two-story addition.

The enlarged facility would provide more space for classes, two

additional health clinics -- the center has just one -- and a full-time

computer learning center.

“Right now, the different activities compete for rooms,” said Carol

Fortier, a Costa Mesa resident who visits the senior center. “Sometimes

the bridge people go into the computer room and say ‘get out.’ With more

rooms, there wouldn’t be any more conflicts.”

Fortier, who takes astrology, Spanish, computer and bridge classes at the

center, said a lack of space forced a psychologist to lead grief

management workshops in the hallway.

“Without a confidential space to pull seniors together who had a loss,

how can we help them move ahead in life?” said Cowan.

But even after senior center officials present detailed reports to the

City Council, it may be three to five years before construction begins,

said City Manager Allan Roeder. He said the project would compete for

city dollars against street widening, acquisition of parks and other

public works projects.

“This doesn’t mean you’re going to see it in next year’s budget,” Roeder

said.