Atlanta breaks ground on its first senior center
Atlanta’s older residents will soon have a 29,000-square-foot facility to call their own — equipped with fire pits, a wellness center, test kitchen, outdoor patio, indoor golf simulator and a new pro shop.
City officials broke ground Wednesday on Atlanta’s first dedicated space for its aging residents who, community leaders said, often struggle to find social activities as they get older.
The new activity center will overlook the nine-hole John A. White Golf Course. Mayor Andre Dickens — who learned to golf on the same driving range in southwest Atlanta — called the project a much-needed investment in the city’s older adults.
“This place holds a special space in my heart and in the heart of our community,” he said. “And the new center that we’re creating — this legacy — will serve generations to come.”
The Atlanta City Council approved a $30 million bond for the project last spring to fund construction of the center, which will offer everything from therapy sessions to yoga classes.
But Council member Marci Collier Overstreet, who represents the area, said the facility will do much more than just provide entertainment. It will also keep Atlanta’s legacy residents from being displaced from their homes.
“We’re making sure that our community members can age in place,” Overstreet said. “They want to stay in the community as they grow older.
“It’s part of making sure that you don’t have to leave because you’re too old. You don’t have to leave because you aren’t making $100,000 a year. You get to stay here and have a beautiful quality of life.”
About the Author
Riley Bunch is a reporter on the local government team at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution covering Atlanta City Hall. She covers the mayor and Atlanta City Council while also keeping an eye on the city’s diverse neighborhoods.
