Design Contract Approved for Austell Senior Center

After having two senior centers close recently due to the county's budget shortfall, seniors can rejoice today as they get one step closer to having one more county senior center. The Cobb County Board of Commissioners approved the $281,000 design/build contract to Choate Construction for the new Austell Senior Center at their Tuesday night regular meeting.

The center, formerly located in Legion Park, was flooded for a second time in less than five years in September 2009. Since then, the senior services for this area have operated from a building in Powder Springs.

When Legion Park opened officially last week, the former senior center stood vacant. The county sold the building to the city for $1, and Mayor Joe Jerkins said it will be used for various activities once they have it restored.

The new Austell senior center will be located in Clarkdale Park at 4905 Austell Powder Springs Road, a little less than a quarter mile from the city offices and Sweetwater Valley Library at the Threadmill Complex. Although the center will be primarily used for senior services, it will be open for public use in the evenings and on weekends.

Pam Breeden, executive director for Cobb County Senior Services, said the location was chosen because Clarkdale Park never flooded during the last couple of large floods in Austell.

Two federal grants, as well as FEMA funds and flood insurance money will be used to cover costs to complete the center.

Breeden told South Cobb Patch in early March that center could be finished by Christmas.