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Renton’s wonderful Don Persson Senior Activity Center will be closed for some much-needed refurbishment starting on April 15– just 6 days from now. Presumably, many of the activities will be moved to the Community Center, but the specifics have not been shared at this point. This could come as a surprise for anyone who has not visited the Senior Center in the last week, since signs at the center have only recently been put up, and the city website does not mention the closure anywhere that I could find. In addition, the Senior Center calendar remains unchanged from previous months. I recommend that the City’s communication department get some announcements posted, preferably to the City’s home page and the Senior Center page.
The beautiful and popular Don Persson Renton Activity Senior Center sits on the banks of Cedar River, just across Logan Way from Renton Stadium and Renton Airport. The roof needs replacement, and all of the HVAC equipment on the flat roof section is also due for replacement. The work will deactivate the cooling and ventilating in the building during the construction period.
The City Council has briefly discussed the closure in a Committee of the Whole meeting in March, but even during that meeting it wasn’t clear that that the closure would last over six months. And few residents watch these meetings. Unless a resident watched that meeting and took notes, they likely won’t know this closure is coming.
The refurbishment is described as a new roof, siding, windows, and HVAC system (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system). These will all be desirable improvements that are arguably overdue on this building. I’ve had some residents ask me if I know why the Senior Center would have to close down entirely for these changes since much of the work is external to the building. And the answer is that the HVAC system will need to be deactivated during the roof replacement since much of the equipment is on the flat part of the roof. Without air conditioning and ventilation, the building may not be a safe environment for its normal activities in the summer. In addition, the windows will be replaced which will require interior work in all the rooms. And the refurbishment also includes updates to fire and communication systems, and other systems that run throughout the building. Having contractors working on all these systems at the same time classes are going on could be a safety risk and a logistical challenge.
Unfortunately, the work has come at a time that the city has many other buildings out of commission, undergoing repairs or refurbishments. This will add to the scheduling challenges. The Pavilion Event Center is being converted into a Market, Carco Theater is being repaired after the December Cedar River flood, the Mill Avenue building (old city hall) is being repaired after it was flooded by a broken 16 inch water main, and the Renton Historical Museum building was abruptly closed about a year ago for refurbishment. In past years, these building might have offered extra space for classes and events. With all these closures, the Community Center will be working to absorb as many of the Senior activities as possible, which will be a challenge in the building and in the adjacent parking lots. The parking often gets packed in the summer from the Henry Moses Aquatic Center.
In summary, I’m glad that City Council authorized the refurbishment of the Senior Center. While the work requires a closure, I recommend the closure be communicated to the public more urgently and thoroughly, and I hope the contractor can get the job done swiftly– early if at all possible.
Banners should be added to this Senior Center page and the City’s home page advising of the upcoming closure
As of today, the posted schedule looks like all activities are happening normally
The website’s April lunch menu gives not hints that the Senior Center will be closing
This chart was shown during the March 2nd Committee of the Whole meeting, where Council was told in general terms about the upcoming work and schedule disruptions.
This is one page from the thousand-page construction contract that was approved by Renton City Council at their April 6 meeting. This drawing shows the replacement roof and the new high-efficiency HVAC heat pumps being installed on the flat roof section.
My wife Cathy and I attending a fun painting class at the Don Persson Senior Activity Center last week. Senior Center activities are offered to everyone age 50 and above.
Breaking news about the City of Renton, again! lol
Seriously, Randy, thank you for this important information that will affect a LOT of people. My first thought was wondering about the lunch served Monday through Friday. I know there are many Seniors that depend on that for their daily meals.
This is a looonngg closure, 6 months! I hope it doesn’t take that long, but seeing how long the Pavilion & Piazza are taking, this is probably realistic. Our once-beautiful Renton is looking pretty shabby with all the closed facilities and buildings. sigh.
Marcie Palmer
Is there a cost listed somewhere? Just curious.
I had heard about it only because the North Renton Neighborhood Association, which typically meets there the 3rd Wed of each month, needed to find a new location during construction.
I agree the timing seems bad. Renton, especially the downtown, looks like it has been bombed. The Money Pit…
Thanks for asking, Curious.
It looks the cost of this particular contract is about $1.8 million. And I know the city has already spent almost $400,000 on architecture for the project. That makes $2.2 million. In the agenda item from Monday night the city presented total project funding of $3.2 million. It’s not clear from this paperwork specifically where the final $1 million will be spent. It might be new appliances and new furnishings. Or other interior work by another firm. And/or perhaps some of it is for landscaping and the parking lot (although they seem fine to me as they are). I’ll post it here when I learn where the last million dollars of the money is going; or if any reader knows please post the information. Here is the Agenda Bill summary from Monday night:
During the day, I suspect there more than a few people who need the place to keep cool. Older seniors are tight with money for various reasons and many don’t have AC. I suspect we’ll see a few heat strokes this year if we have a heat wave.
I think the City should strike a deal with the School District to get parts of Renton High open to host some of these programs when school is out of session. Renton High has some nice air conditioned facilities that could be used for serving lunches and holding classes. They also have a large parking lot, and they are close to the existing senior center. Considering the amount of money we give the district every year, and the fact that the district is going to tear down this whole school in the next few years, it would be a chance to get some extra use out of it first.
Randy, what a great idea! I know alot of the seniors that use the senior center live in the downtown area and using the high school would be excellent for accessability. Who at the city can I contact to find out if this can happen? I’d be happy to make phone calls and/or visit them…
The city prepared a press release and posted notices on the website today
Only because you posted.
Didn’t they just do a Hindu of work funded with leftover covid relief funds and CDBG funds?