Holding signs and wearing shirts bearing the words "Seniors Matter," a few dozen senior citizens appeared at a Chattanooga City Council meeting to renew their call for a stand-alone facility.
"We are aging better and living longer," Gwen Davis, a member of the Glenwood senior center advisory group, told the panel last Tuesday. "Older adults are not the seniors of yesterday. Seniors today are an active and vital group for the most part, and our needs must be considered by our government. The silver tsunami is coming, and Chattanooga is not prepared."
Chattanooga previously organized dedicated senior programming at Eastgate Town Center, but the city terminated its lease at the facility several months ago, moving those programs on a temporary basis to Glenwood Community Center starting Dec. 1.
Chief Operating Officer Ryan Ewalt previously told the Chattanooga Times Free Press the approximately $100,000 a year the city was paying to rent space would be better invested in upgrading existing facilities for seniors and completing a study on more permanent arrangements. The city will evaluate whether to develop a new stand-alone senior facility on land near Carver Recreation Center.
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In the meantime, seniors have raised concerns about the temporary space at Glenwood Community Center, saying there's inadequate space and parking — especially handicap parking.
Gracelia Moore, another member of the advisory board, said the city is a retirement destination because of the weather, health care and lack of income tax. More than 4.1 million Americans will turn 65 per year between 2024 and 2027, according to a report completed by the Alliance for Lifetime Income.
"The figure represents the largest surge of retirement-age Americans in history, and as more Americans reach retirement age, they are scouring the nation for the best place to settle down and make the most of their golden years," Moore said during the meeting. "For many, the spot is Chattanooga."
Staff photo by David Floyd / Gracelia Moore, a member of the Glenwood senior center advisory group, speaks Tuesday at a Chattanooga City Council meeting.City spokesperson Liam Collins said in an email that officials met with the senior center advisory board several weeks ago and shared steps they plan to take toward a stand-alone center at the Carver site.
The first step is determining program needs, which would be done in partnership with seniors. That would begin this summer. The city would then do a feasibility study, which is already in the 2025 budget and includes space planning for several projects at the Carver site. There would then be broader community engagement this winter.
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At the same time, there are active discussions about other potential options in case the feasibility study does not turn out favorably or in case a better option becomes available, Collins said.
"In the meantime, we have worked consistently with our seniors to provide robust programming at Glenwood and to address every concern they have brought to our attention to the best of our ability," Collins said. "We are currently exploring all options to expand parking options at Glenwood and continue to offer continuous shuttle services to and from Carver to ensure every senior has the option to take part in every program we are offering at Glenwood."
Contact David Floyd at dfloyd@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.