Mayor: Manchester Needed A New Senior Center 'Yesterday'

MANCHESTER, CT — The town could be purchasing a church property as a possible site for a new senior center, according to discussion at the March 12 meeting of the Manchester Board of Directors.

In an 8-1 vote, the Board of Directors authorized the town manager to negotiate the potential purchase of 40 Pitkin St. in Manchester — the Concordia Lutheran Church.

During the meeting, town officials discussed acquiring a church property that could be repurposed to house a future senior center. Board members said the concept is still preliminary and would require further evaluation before any formal proposal or purchase agreement is brought forward.

The discussion came as the town continues to examine long-term options for a new facility to serve older residents. Officials indicated the church property could offer an existing structure that might be adapted for senior programming rather than constructing a completely new building.

Said Mayor Jay Moran, "Today our community members are living longer and the time for a new senior center was yesterday. Forty Pitkin as a future site came as a strong recommendation from our 21st century senior center task force, whose committee is made up of mostly seniors.

"Let's be clear, this first step towards a 21st century senior center, gives the town manager permission to begin negotiations with Concordia to purchase. There will be many opportunities in the near future for more members of our town to weigh in on our future senior center plans.I’m excited that this journey to a 21st century senior center in Manchester has begun."

Board members also emphasized that the town is still in the early stages of reviewing potential sites and that additional analysis would be required to determine whether the church property would meet the community’s needs.

Any potential purchase would require further review and approval by town officials before moving forward.

The discussion was outlined in the meeting minutes from the March 12 session of the Manchester Board of Directors.