It went largely unnoticed when it happened, but to Fayette’s growing senior community, it’s a dream come true.

Last month, the Fayette County Commission, without debate or discussion, approved a $4.1 million construction contract to Headley Construction of Newnan to build the county’s new senior center.

The contract was on the consent agenda and drew no discussion, but has elicited excitement for Fayette’s director of senior services, Andy Carden.

“It’s been a long time coming, and this will offer us the space to serve our growing active senior community,” Carden said.

Construction on the 22,000 square-foot multipurpose building starts next month and is supposed to be complete in the fall of 2007.

The building is located across from the Fayette County Justice Center and backs up to Jimmy Mayfield Drive. The county donated the three-acre site for the center in 2000.

When it’s complete, the building will be a far cry from the old residence on Lee Street that Fayette Senior Services has used since 1978.

“We’ve got 1,620 square feet now, and a trailer that’s used as our administrative area,” Carden said.

Carden said the new center will continue to offer existing services, such as Meals on Wheels and transportation programs, but will be able to offer a lot more programs for newly-retired and active seniors. “We’ll have low-stress exercise equipment, along with a billiards table and offer bridge and bunco areas,” he added.

The Senior Services Web site also says the project will include such site amenities as outdoor patios, gardens, picnic and recreation areas. The center will be linked via walking trails to a county park and picnic pavilion.

Additionally according to the Web site, the building will support a wide range of activities. The multipurpose room will accommodate 150 for dinner or seat 100 for dinner along with a dance floor and stage. The card room will seat 40 for bridge and the meeting/small dining room will seat 60 for a seminar.

There are two crafts rooms, each of which will provide for the undertaking of a variety of crafts. The game room will include two billiards tables as well as a small seating group.

To accommodate the growing interest by seniors, the facility will include a wellness program, computer lab with Internet access and computer workstations.

Food service for the building is provided via two kitchens: a catering kitchen, which will accommodate potluck dinners and other events, catered by an outside source. The second kitchen will warm and assemble meals for the Meals on Wheels Program and for an expanded nutrition program for congregate meals.

“Our seniors have waited a long time for this, and the new facility will serve them well,” said Carden.