MONTPELIER, Vt. -
It's been a long wait for seniors in Montpelier, but a new activity center and apartments are now officially up and running.
The ambitious $5 million project transformed the old school building into a community hub for area seniors to live, eat meals, and attend classes and events.
A fire in December 2009 heavily damaged the 80-year-old building which housed the senior center and school offices. Today, the upstairs now has 14 apartments, mostly low-income senior housing. And the senior activity center is located on the other two floors.
"Well it's home. It's where a lot of us started out with this program and of course the fire took place just a week or so before our annual Christmas dinner in December and it was devastating. So were happy to be home," said Ed Koenemann, a member of the senior center.
"This is a good example of how we truly add the dollars and the work and the dedication to delivering quality downtown housing where we can continue to honor what makes Vermonters Vermonters-- strong downtowns where we talk to each other, where we wave at each other, where we care about each other, we look out for each other and we live together in the best state in the country," said Gov. Peter Shumlin, D-Vermont.
The senior center has about 700 members. Low-income apartments in the building have been filled, but there are still a few available at market rate.
