City officials talk about advantages of new Active Adult Center

MADISON HEIGHTS — Plans are coming together for the new Active Adult Center, to be located between Madison Heights City Hall and the Madison Heights Public Library at Civic Center Plaza on 13 Mile Road west of John R Road, and connected to each building.

With the final details being sorted out on the fate of the original Active Adult Center, located on the east side of John R Road north of 12 Mile Road, officials say that the new building will bring with it many advantages that residents will appreciate.

“Once the new Active Adult Center is built at the main city campus, we will see a reduction of costs for snow removal and other routine maintenance expenses,” said Roslyn Grafstein, the mayor of Madison Heights, in an email. “But the biggest benefit I see is that our seniors will no longer be isolated as they were at the previous location. I like that people can walk to the AAC after visiting the library or walking around the park, and that our senior population will have a central place for their activities that is closer to the police and fire stations.”

The overall project was approved at a price tag of $14.5 million, which includes not only the construction of the new Active Adult Center, but renovation at City Hall and the library next door, connections between the two, and also renovations at Fire Station No. 2, which is located off campus at 26339 John R Road. Taken altogether, the renovations and construction represent the largest capital improvement project in the history of Madison Heights.

The original Active Adult Center, located at 29448 John R Road, was sold for $1.85 million during the City Council meeting May 9, with a 210-day due diligence period. The offer to purchase was received from MMD Acquisition through the city’s broker, Larry Campbell of Century 21 Campbell Realty, Inc. The plans for the parcel are to be determined, but the city will continue to occupy the space until the new Active Adult Center is ready, roughly a year from now.

The existing building occupies several acres and was originally built in 1975, and then expanded to twice its size in 1985. The building there is currently 11,554 square feet. Its replacement at Civic Center Plaza will be larger at 14,900 square feet, with an additional shared space of 2,400 square feet that includes a new Breckenridge Room at the library, existing bathrooms at both ends of the building, and the executive conference meeting space.

“The new building is purpose-driven,” said Sean Ballantine, the public works supervisor for the city of Madison Heights, in an email. “Since the original center was built, our seniors have become much more active. Gone are the days of sitting in the great room and just watching TV. As a result, many conflicting activities occur due to the lack of specifically identified program spaces in the current buildings.”

Officials believe that the more generous accommodations at the new center will remedy that.

“Our Active Adult Center helps older residents remain active, engaged and independent by providing opportunities for improving health, continuing education, volunteering and building friendships,” said Melissa Marsh, the city manager, via email. “This new building will provide enhanced programming space and create a welcoming environment for all older adults in the community, targeting individuals 50 years and older.”

Emily Rohrbach, a member of the Madison Heights City Council, said via email that the larger Civic Center project, and especially the location of the AAC, will be “game changers” for how the city can serve its senior population.

“The new AAC will have direct access to our updated library and City Hall. The classrooms and facilities available to our active adults will be larger and more up to date, and will be able to serve the community better for the long-term,” Rohrbach said. “I hear from residents all the time about how our facilities are just outdated, inefficient and low quality. The problem is that during the recession beginning in 2009, the city had to defer maintenance on a lot of capital issues in these buildings. Since then, issues have grown, and the cost to repair and maintain was going to be higher than the cost to rebuild. I’m thrilled that we’re making this investment in our infrastructure, so that our community can actually see the improvements, and benefit from the facilities in many ways.”

The mayor agreed, noting the benefits of making renovations throughout Civic Center Plaza at the same time. She said it’s more cost effective than the alternative of ongoing repairs.

“I think it’s wonderful that we are able to provide our older residents a new building that is centrally located, while allowing the (original) John R location to be developed (into something new), providing a regular tax base, and hopefully more business and housing options for residents,” Grafstein said.

Sean Fleming, one of the new members of the Madison Heights City Council, serves as a council liaison for the Active Adult Center.

“I am ecstatic to be able to provide a safe space for our seniors in a newer updated facility,” Fleming said in an email. “I’m also looking to the new remodeled spaces for the staff and council (as part of the larger capital improvement project). It will provide a better work environment for everyone, and I want to thank our community for their patience while our buildings are under construction.”

Added Rohrbach: “I look forward to celebrating the opening of our updated facilities in the coming year.”