Talk about a senior center.
The new multimillion-dollar Sylvania Senior Center is bright and airy with a game room, weights, and a computer lab.
It's a far cry from the current center in the basement of the Burnham Building, 6850, Monroe St., says Tony LaConey.
“It's really wonderful,'' said Mr. LaConey after he walked through the new building at 7140 Sylvania Avenue.
Officials are bracing for tomorrow's grand opening.
Betty Purdy said the former center was too crowded.
“But now there's going to be lots of room. We should be able to get things like entertainment which we just couldn't have before,'' she said.
Center Director Nan Buehrer said activities at the new facility would probably increase in the future. Officials will relocate some classes in other facilities to the new building, which has a dining room with a fireplace and windows that look out onto a patio. The dining room will seat about 100 people.
The building also has a game room with two pool tables. There's also a room with six terminals that will be used for computer classes. Six other computers will be placed in the building for general use.
And there's a room for quiet reading with a view of trees and a lawn, which will be developed into something of a nature center.
Mrs. Buehrer said someone is working on making bird feeders, and seniors will be able to plant flowers in the area, “and then come back inside and enjoy,'' what they've planted.
The building also has a separate room for use as a woodworking shop, and another with two kilns for art classes. Another room is wired for video conferencing for expected long-distance learning classes, and another space that will be used for quilting. There also is a wellness room that visiting medical professionals can use.
In the center of the building is a large room, with wooden gymnasium flooring for exercise classes. It also has two alcoves which will have free weights and other exercise equipment.
The room connects to the recently opened addition to Tam O'Shanter, which can be used by members of the senior center for jogging and walking.
The director said the exercise room also could seat about 250 people for banquets. The first is scheduled for March 23 to help mark the opening of the center.
Classes are being offered in things ranging from art to tai chi.
Although many classes have fees, there is no charge for being a member of the senior center.
Ms. Buehrer said people who want to use the facility are simply asked to sign a registration card. She added that last year about 2,000 individuals used the senior center for some activity.
“We've checked with other places where new centers have opened and we've been told to expect double or triple the use in the first year,'' she said.
She said early community reaction indicates a likely sharp increase in use after the facility opens. She noted that there have already been new people using the walking and jogging track who hadn't been to the former site.
The addition to Tam O'Shanter and the attached senior center cost a total of about $6.3 million. The city of Sylvania is selling bonds to pay for the addition to Tam O'Shanter.
The city, the township, and the Area Office on Aging are financing the senior center.
First Published March 14, 2002, 9:44 a.m.
