City Council Meeting

Susan DeManiapublic commentI'm Susan DeMena, a Fairfax County resident who is here to encourage you to support the construction of the previously planned Sherwood Willard Center. I've been a member of the Green Acres Senior Center for 11 years. I've served on the advisory council. I've been an eager participant in the luncheon parties, the day trips, and especially indoor pickleball. First, you need to know that the staff at Green Acres does a remarkable job under less than ideal circumstances. The building needs a lot of work, as another speaker will tell you. Ann Chase and her team are creative as well as patient, kind, tolerant, and best of all, they're fun. Despite the many challenges of the less than optimal physical plant,

Right now, you may not appreciate the value of the center, but it is a place that provides physical activity, mental stimulation, and friendship to hundreds of people each week. What will happen if you vote to squash the planned center? I've seen the projected cost, tearing down and building something new at the location on Sideburn, the 62-year-old structure would actually cost more than the proposed Sherwood Willard Center. Now, I understand this proposed center isn't only for senior citizens, but I also know that the Fairfax City scores very high in the rankings on that many quality of life lists, and it's recognized for receiving a national gold medal for its parks and rec programs. So why not keep the streak of excellence going with a wonderful green building that includes facilities for both young and old, a senior center, preschool, health care, and more?

Deborah Sparkmanpublic commentGood evening. My name is Deborah Sparkman. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you on behalf of the Young at Heart Senior Center. I am currently a member of the Advisory Council. As identified in the 2023 schools facility condition assessment, the Green Acres facility does not meet expectations. The Green Acres building sits lower on the street. The building sits lower than the street in the parking area. And access to that building means you basically have to walk down a full set of steps or walk down a steep slope that sometimes is very slippery. There are five sets of double doors that provide access to the various rooms used by the seniors. These double doors are heavier than typical interior doors and not easily opened by persons using a walker or even a cane.

These doors do not have automated door openers. These doors must remain open at all times for access to the various senior center rooms in the facility. At least three sets of these doors do not have functioning door stops. or rubber doorstops that we put in them do not keep the doors open. Frequently the door still is not open wide enough for someone to for one of our senior members to walk down to play cards or attend the military history meeting. The mechanical, electrical and ventilation systems are all past their service life making it difficult to service and make repairs. A huge freestanding fan is used to circulate the air in the waiting area for the pickleballers. windows are open to circulate the air in some of the rooms in general the windows

The proposed Willow-Trewwood Center is approximately $700,000 less than demolishing and rebuilding green acres, and it's $3.6 million less than making the repairs and bringing green acres up to code. I urge the city council to approve the Willow-Trewwood Health and Community Center. Earlier tonight, on behalf of the Young at Heart Senior Center Advisory Council, I submitted Willio Churwood Center signed by nearly 200 members. Thank you for your attention.

Sandy Slappy-Brownpublic commentGreen Acres is nearing the end of its life cycle, as we've just been hearing. If we don't proceed with the Willard-Sherwood construction contract on April 28th, are we accepting that the city will no longer offer a senior center, a rec center, the Main Street Child Care Center, and a health clinic? City residents would have to travel farther away into Fairfax County to receive those services. And that doesn't align with our commitment to equitable service delivery. I'm not sure what the viable options are, and I'm wondering if there's options I'm not aware of. I also understand that finances are an area of concern, and I get that. Everything is costing more than it used to. I believe in making financially, fiscally responsible decisions for our long-term vision of the city.