By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Fayette advocates for senior citizens are moving quickly on plans for a new senior center now that land has been made available next to the planned new county jail and courthouse.

Architects have developed a rendering to show how they expect the facility to look, and a design committee is meeting frequently in efforts to come up with a design that will be compatible with plans for the county complex, said Andy Carden, director of Fayette Senior Services Inc.

Plans are for a building of about 13,000 square feet that can serve both active and less active seniors.

“I'm very pleased with progress so far,” Carden told The Citizen.

Consulting firm Mallett and Associates, the firm that is overseeing the county complex construction, will handle engineering of the senior center, Carden said, ensuring that architectural styles won't clash.

Working with architects Fynn and Fingerup, the design committee is almost ready with a plan for the building, Carden added. “We started with discussions of need, and worked from the need out,” he said.

Funding is the next big hurdle. The facility is expected to cost “at least $2.5 million,” said Carden, and volunteers are gearing up to look for funding everywhere possible. “The funding effort is beginning to materialize,” said Carden.

Fayette's government over the years has earmarked some money for the project, and FSS has a little money of its own, he said. FSS officials hope to secure community development block grants for at least part of the cost, and volunteers will be seeking private and corporate donations and grants for the rest.

“When all is said and done, I'd like to say I've got enough money,” he said.

Plans to start the fund-raising were delayed early last year when the County Commission reversed an earlier commission's promise to provide land for the senior center on Lee Street next to the current center.

Commissioners decided to delay a decision on where to place the senior center until they had time to master-plan the 65-acre site with room for the new jail, courthouse, senior center and a future county administration building.

Without a definite site for the building, it's improssible to draw up plans and make proposals for grants, Carden said.

Now, with the master plan in place, FSS has been given space at the entrance to the complex, on Jimmie Mayfield Boulevard.

FSS members have been working toward a new center for years, said Carden. The current senior center, at 390 Lee St. , is too small for the services FSS offers, he said.

FSS moved into the 3,300-sq. ft. house soon after it organized about 20 years ago, and members of the group have been working toward the hope of a permanent facility ever since then, Carden said.