Council Reviews "Senior & Community Centers" Expenses

At today's Committee of the Whole meeting Council reviewed Opsis Architecture’s "contract supplement for construction administration services." It totals $1,412,392.  Opsis is the primary architecture firm for the new Senior & Community Centers. 

Council also took note of the $5,211,638 "maximum amount" payable to Opsis Architecture upon completion..  

2023-2024 Funding sources for the new Senior & Community Centers are, as follows:

$17.116 million: Capital Improvement Program

$1.25 million State Capital Adopted Budget  

$1.648 million Surplus Park Impact Fees from 2019-2020

$2.486 million General Fund available cash from the 2019-2020 biennium and the 2021 fiscal year, 

$9.5 million Surplus REET and park impact fees from the 2021 fiscal year. 

$16 million Councilmanic bonds:  (Councilmanic bonds do not require a vote of the people.  Council members praised Finance Director Chip Corder for managing the issue and locking in a very low rate.

Total:  $48,000,000

-- Bob Yoder,  6/28/2022

Redmond Senior and Community Center Tour / Groundbreaking June 2nd

Join the architect in a walking tour throughout the Senior & Community Center.

Community Invited to Celebrate Groundbreaking of the New Redmond Senior & Community Center

REDMOND, WA – The City of Redmond invites community members to celebrate the commencement of the construction for the new Redmond Senior & Community Center during a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, June 2. Brief remarks from Mayor Angela Birney and Parks and Recreation Interim Director Loreen Hamilton will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the site of the new center, 8703 160th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052, followed by an open house inside the lobby of City Hall. 

“We are excited to see all of the planning and community engagement coming to fruition during the construction phase,” said Interim Director Hamilton. “A new community center with dedicated space for seniors, as well as additional recreational opportunities is the culmination of years of work and collaboration across the City, including input from a wide variety of stakeholders and Redmond seniors.”

The new Redmond Senior & Community Center will be a 52,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility, with a total project budget of *$48 million. The building will utilize LEED-certified materials, efficient energy-conserving systems, and rooftop solar panels which will provide 50% of the building’s electricity. The City of Redmond began outreach for the project in 2020, which confirmed Redmond’s need for a larger center to serve the senior population while also serving the entire community with cultural arts, events, and multigenerational recreation experiences and gathering space.

UPDATED: Senior and Community Center to Open 2023

Community ribbon heart to memorialize the old Senior Center before demolition  

During the May 4th Council Committee meeting, Parks Director Carrie Hite gave an update on the Senior and Community Center.  The new building will open 2023. It will be at minimum LEED Gold Certified and built to last 50-100 years. Estimated cost is $41 million.  Councilmember Jeralee Anderson asked "if you had unlimited funds where would you spend them?"  Ms. Hite responded: "a buildout of the second floor." 

Staff showed maps of the layout of the spaces.  A list of the spaces on the website, with square footage and descriptions, would  be helpful in understanding the building.

-- Bob Yoder, 5/9/2021 (Internet photo)

Input is requested on the Senior and Community Centers

Redmond, WA – The City of Redmond invites community members to give their input on the program and design process for the future Redmond Senior and Community Center. The community is invited to join a virtual public meeting on February 24 from 1-3 p.m. for seniors and 6:30-8:30 p.m. for all ages. In addition to this meeting, an online questionnaire is available through March 10. To RSVP for this meeting or to complete the questionnaire, visit the project webpage at www.redmond.gov/RSCC.

Thousands of citizens have been polled on the Senior Center in recent years.  With the Centers not opening in a few years from now; I won't be participating in this survey.  I'll wait for the next one. -- B. Yoder, 2/16/2021