LYNN — The city and its Council on Aging have received two proposals for a location of a new senior center, which were discussed in a meeting Wednesday morning.
“This is obviously a very big decision for the city and a big decision for the seniors,” said James Lamanna, assistant city solicitor. “I would encourage this board not to feel like they are rushed.”
The two bid responses pertained to two sites at 37/41 Friend St. and 181 Union St. The first location is about 7,700 square feet, and would cost $175,000 to rent in the first year of lease. The second location on Union Street is smaller, at 6,400 square feet, with an annual rent of $103,000 for the first year.
Both proposals have a remote start date. The Friend Street bid suggested an April 1 start date, while the lease on Union Street would start on July 1. In both cases, the city would commit to a 10-year lease.
One site requires a minimal buildout, Lamanna said, but the second location will need a complete buildout. With state Sen. Brendan Crighton’s (D-Lynn) leadership, the state legislature secured $1.2 million for the new senior center, which can be used for the buildout, Lamanna said.
Since the Council on Aging was appointed by the city to make the decision about the new senior center, Lamanna encouraged the council to lead the process, and decide how they would like to proceed, to ensure the seniors have sufficient input so that everyone is comfortable with the 10-year commitment.
The Council on Aging agreed to visit the properties and do a walk-through after the holidays before they make their decision.
“It is hard looking at the paperwork and visualizing it,” said Ward 5 Councilor Dianna Chakoutis, chair of the Council on Aging.
This was the third Request For Proposals (RFP) the city put out to buy or rent property for a senior center. The first one was made at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and attracted no bidders. The city tried sending out another RFP at the beginning of 2021 without success as well.
