The Sul Ross Senior Center was built in the 1950s. In 1969, it became the first community center in Waco, but has received minimal renovations over the years.
In January last year, the 70-year-old building failed a fire inspection. Parks and Recreation Director Jonathon Cook said this made the city re-evaluate the state of the building.
"Our number one goal is providing safe and accessible features," Cook said.
That means closing the Sul Ross Senior Center.
At their February 18 meeting, the Waco City Council had a lot of questions about what would happen to the programs Sul Ross Senior Center provides. They did not want any disruption in service.
Waco Parks and Recreation Director Jonathon Cook told the council that his team would work to find a solution for each of the unique groups meeting at Sul Ross.
Tuesday, he presented those solutions to the council.
"The relocation is a first step," Cook told the council. "Our next step will be to continue to explore options."
For now, the city has decided to relocate the programs hosted at Sul Ross.
Most programs will move before May 1. All relocations are within 3 miles of the original location, Cook said, so the seniors that had been going to Sul Ross won’t have to travel far.
The bridge club will move to the Harrison Senior Center and Meals on Wheels will move lunch and other programs to the Dewey Community Center. The Art Expressions group and USA Dance will move to the Cameron Park Clubhouse. Each of the before-mentioned groups have about 20-40 people regularly in attendance.
But finding a new location for the Boot Scootin’ Dance Club, which regularly sees 150 members each Thursday, proved to be more of a challenge.
"Finding a large dance floor - not that easy," Cook said.
Eventually, Cook and his team were able to find one that fit the bill.
"We've been able to work an arrangement with the Lion's Den," Cook told the council.
The Lions Den already has a large dance floor and stage for live music, so Cook said it made the ideal location.
To accommodate scheduling conflicts, the Boot Scootin’ Dance Club will hold its final dance at the Sul Ross on Thursday, May 1. Its first dance at the Lions Den will be May 8.
Councilwoman Andrea Barefield, who has spearheaded age-inclusive community projects like the Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center, said it was important to the council to make sure there was no break in programming while a long-term solution is found.
"I think that until we get to a major solution these are some really strong alternatives," Barefield said. "So I appreciate you and your staff making a way that our seniors can continue to get their senior on."
Once all programming is transitioned to their new locations, Cook said the city will begin to look at next steps for the Sul Ross Senior Center.
Options include permanent relocation of activities and either sale or demolition of the building or restoration, which would cost an estimated $3.5 million.
