Simsbury Residents Offer Different Takes on Best Place for Senior Services and Activities

At a public forum Monday night numerous speakers agreed that Eno Memorial Hall is a valuable town asset but opinions varied as to whether the building is the town’s best option for the future of its senior services and programs.

“Most of the people I talk to they don’t want to leave the Eno,” said resident David Bahre. “We can make the senior center work.”

Resident Don Zaylor felt the building is too limited, especially with parking.

“Eno is a finite area,” he said.

The two were among some 16 people who spoke during a forum about the town’s plans for a new Senior and Community Center.

In May of 2010 selectmen charged the Public Building Committee to conduct a needs assessment study of Eno Emorial Hall and review additional programs, study other sites and conduct citizen meetings. 

In addition a subcommittee of senior center users was formed and Quisenberry Arcari Architects retained. The company has drafted a 22,200 square-foot plan that could be implemented through an addition to the existing senior center at Eno, a new structure at the corner of Bushy Hill and Stratton Brook Roads or one at the Performing Arts Center on Iron Horse Boulevard.

Cost estimates range from $6.6 million to $7.9 million, with some grant potential. 

Speakers differed on what would best serve a growing segment of the population. 

While one speaker spoke of wetlands issues at the Performing Arts Center, Ferg Jansen a member of the center’s board, said the board feels the town should also least investigate the idea of building something that meets the future needs of the senior/community center and the performing arts center.

“The town should at least look at that combination,” he said.

Zaylor felt a site like the Bushy Hill one would allow the town plenty of room to expand and offer a high level of service. He also said it may not be downtown but is central.

“It’s in the center of the population of town,” he said. “It’s a beautiful location in that regard.”

Resident Dave Galt spoke against the Bushy Hill location due to the location due to environmental issues such as the woodlands, an important aquifer and the fact that its contiguous with the open space the town worked so hard to protect.

“This pristine site is inappropriate for development,” Galt said.

Anita Mielert felt the plans, which show Eno as the most expensive option, were biased toward the Bushy Hill site. Many of the soft costs included for Eno have been completed with recent renovations, she said. She also contended that the environmental and recreation rankings for the Bushy Hill site were too high, the latter being based on the amount of room available, not what’s present.

She was one of several speakers who were in favor of a downtown site where many amenities exist and the where the town charrette process identified the potential for senior housing and further infrastructure.

The inclusion of the plans for items like a library and café at the facility are unnecessary if it stays where it is, she said.

“Why are we filling a wish list that duplicates so many services?” she asked.

Edna Schreindorfer, a daily senior center user, argued that the Eno building and parking were just inadequate for the needs and questioned whether an addition could even be added to such a historic building.

“We don’t have enough room. We don’t have enough storage,” she said. “We need a new senior center.”

Edward J. LaMontagne, chairman of the aging and disability commission, said he felt it is clear that something will need to be done to address a growing segment of the population, said that town may be able to secure grants and suggested it establish a friends of the senior center group.

“Senior centers are highly value resources for the community,” he said.

Selectmen took no action Monday and agreed to have town staff and the architects address specific questions before having a more extensive discussion on the options.

More details about the study and possible configurations can be found here.