Wednesday, August 29, 2001
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Wednesday, August 29, 2001 |
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Senior center may be looking for a contractor soon By DAVE
HAMRICK
Fayette Senior Services is a third of the way to funding a long-standing dream, construction of a new center to serve Fayette's elderly, said director Andy Carden. "We have about a third of the money or in-kind [contributions] in hand," Carden said this week. Now FSS needs to find a general contractor, even though there's not yet enough money to start construction. "This will be a great asset to us for the in-kind contributions," said Carden, to facilitate the capital campaign." A general contractor can talk the language of suppliers and subcontractors, he said, and solicit contributions of materials or labor to help build the facility. Plans for the $3.2 million, 22,000-sq. ft. multipurpose facility are on the drawing board of architects Flynn and Finderup, and may be ready by the end of this week, Carden said. Once those are in hand, FSS can start looking for the contractor. The center, which will serve both active and less active seniors, will be on three acres provided by the Fayette County government, at the entrance to its new courthouse/jail complex under construction between Lee Street and Jimmie Mayfield Boulevard. The entrance will be on Jimmie Mayfield. Key to the fund-raising efforts thus far, he said, have been the members of the FSS Capital Campaign Committee. Among those are Fayetteville Mayor Kenneth Steele. "He has made several key initiatives, including asking Sen. [Greg] Hecht for the $300,000 state appropriations," Carden said. Hecht responded by writing to Gov. Roy Barnes asking for a grant. Carden also praised Fayette's County Commission, community businesses and volunteers for their help in making progress on the fund-raising goal. FSS checked into getting a Community Development Block Grant, but "mainly due to Fayette's social/demographic profile we did not pursue the CDBG process," Carden said. "Fayette Senior Services was very fortunate to receive the three acres of land in such prime location and to be enrolled in the county's planning," he said. "When all of this community focus is concluded, what a fitting tribute to the efforts of the seniors of the past and present and those boomers to come."
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