New Senior Services Building Update - 12/5/2011

Building purchased for Senior Services offices and activities and Youth Services programs
Following citizen approval (90% of 110+ voters) on March 2nd at a public meeting required by State statute, the Township purchased the building at 126-134 South Oak Park Avenue. The new space will address the Senior Services need for more accessible facilities, allow expansion of Youth Services for families and youth, and increase pedestrian traffic for nearby retail, restaurants and services. The purchase will lower facility costs and requires no bond purchase or additional taxes. The building will house Senior Services office and meeting space on the 2nd floor and senior Youth Services activities on the 1st floor.

Long search for Senior Services space
For more than 10 years, Township officials, at the urging of its staff and senior clients, have looked for facilities more appropriate for serving Oak Park’s growing population of active seniors – many life-long taxpayers – who choose to live independently in their homes and apartments. The new location will provide a large 1st floor space for educational, recreational and wellness activities and time to socialize over lunch, 11:00-12:30 each weekday. The second floor will house case manager and service-provider offices and meeting space. The building’s street level access, new ADA- accessible elevator and central location near public transportation will provide a convenience not possible in the current facilities on the 5th and 6th floor of the Oak Park Arms.

Read more about senior features of the new site...

New space for expanded Youth Services programming
Parent, youth and other group-based programming is an expanding area of need for Township Youth Services. Staff and volunteers are frequently requested to provide training, consultation, and large group facilitation. The 1st floor space will be available for group meetings on Monday-Thursday evenings and occasional Saturdays. Anticipated uses of the group space include: (1) Parent, youth and professional education to address the unique out-of-school needs of families in guiding youth development, such as communication skills, use of social media, job preparedness, and persistence in school; (2) Substance abuse prevention education and youth alternative service opportunities; and (3) Intergenerational programming with youth and adults – seniors as a special group – to address youth socialization and academic needs such as mentoring, tutoring, speech and music performance, and project displays.

Read more about youth features of the new site...

No new taxes or debt
The Township’s capital improvement fund, set aside over the past few years for this purpose, covered purchase ($650,000) and will cover renovation and building addition costs (est. $1,450,000). Annual building expenses will be one-half the current rent of $120,000, saving an estimated $60,000 per year for programs. This savings will more than offset the $30- 40,000 reduction in property taxes due to removing the building from the tax rolls. Township staff, clientele and visitors will bring new life to the block and value to the local economy. No special levy, bond issue or loan was required.

Increased pedestrian activity on South Oak Park Avenue
Nearby retail, restaurant and other services will benefit from relocating 20 -25 Township staff to this currently vacant building, increasing pedestrian activity between 9am-5pm weekdays. Between 9am and 3pm weekdays, an average
of 50-60 active seniors will visit Senior Services and enjoy nearby public amenities, such as Scoville Park and the Public Library, and the retail shops. Public transportation and the Township bus service will help minimize automobile traffic and parking needs. Community members and parents with youth will periodically add to the pedestrian traffic weekday evenings and Saturdays. Client parking opportunities will be numerous with over 60 spaces of lightly used, no-charge 2-hour parking within a three-to-five minute walk. Staff will park in the new lot augmented by daytime permit parking nearby. The addition of this Township facility will support the Village’s General Business intended use for this block, which includes government services. With the Township’s use, the block will be 30% offices and services, 40% non-commercial and 30% retail/restaurant (if the vacant H&T becomes retail). The Oak Park Avenue block north of the Elevated tracks, by comparison, is 70% retail/restaurant in line with its higher Central Business zoning.

Read more about commercial features of the new site...


Planning for occupancy underway
The steps in preparing the building for opening in June 2012 include: architectural work and hiring of a contractor, which are completed; overseeing the construction now underway; planning an orderly move of senior facilities from the Arms, and implementing program revisions and improvements in both Senior Services and Youth Services made possible by the new space.

Building progress 12/5/2011

Contacts

Township Office (708) 383-8005:
David Boulanger, Township Supervisor, dboulanger@oakparktownship.org
Gavin Morgan, Township Manager, 
gmorgan@oakparktownship.org

John Williams, Director, Youth Services, jwilliams@oakparktownship.org
Desiree Scully, Director, Senior Services, 
(708) 383-8060, dscully@oakparktownship.org