Last week the Boston City Council sent a $399,000 East Boston Foundation grant to fund programming at East Boston’s first ever Senior Center to the Council’s Committee on Strong Women, Families and Communities for further review.
Once the details of the grant are reviewed by the committee the Council will vote to authorize the city’s Age Strong Commission to serve as administrators of the money. The grant will be used for programming at the senior center that is currently under construction at the former Orient Heights Branch of the Boston Public Library.
Construction on the future senior center began in Summer 2020 at the former library across from Orient Heights MBTA station.
Throughout August and September 2020, interior demolition took place, and construction started on. Construction work on the senior center will include accessibility upgrades, new HVAC systems, new elevator, window replacements, landscaping, new utilities, new bathrooms, new kitchen, sprinkler system and roof replacement.
The renderings released by the city show the completed senior center will have an all glass, 850 square foot addition that will house the senior center’s main entrance, lobby, elevator and stairwell. The renderings also show the outdoor terrace that is part of the design.
For decades East Boston’s senior citizens and senior groups like the Golden Age Club have been clamoring for their own space in the community. Currently, Eastie seniors share space at other non-profits for senior programs, social hours, parties and other events. A dedicated senior center would allow seniors to accomplish these things within the confines of their own permanent location.
Investments from the Massport-funded East Boston Foundation were realized through a mitigation package between the Port Authority and the Logan Impact Advisory Committee (LIAG). The two parties agreed the mitigation grants should help support the programming and operational needs of the newly-renovated center once construction is complete.
“Massport strives to be a good neighbor to our surrounding communities,” said Massport CEO Lisa Wieland when construction began. “Over the years, with the help of East Boston residents and elected officials, we have fulfilled many community commitments in East Boston. Our support of this new Senior Center is a great example of these collaborative efforts.”
The City’s current budget for the design and construction is $5.43 million and the estimated completion date is spring 2022.