DADE CITY – Pasco County is in the process of completing the construction of a building that will serve as a senior center sometime next year.
The 7,334-square-foot building is located at 13906 Fourth St. in Dade City.
Pasco County obtained the two-acre lot free of charge from Community Aging & Retirement Services Inc., also known as CARES, on Nov. 4.
Wilton Simpson donated the property to CARES a couple of years ago. Simpson is commissioner of Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Prior to that, he was president of the Florida State Senate.
CARES had planned to name the new center in Dade City after Simpson to honor him for having donated the property where it’s located. It’s not known if Pasco County will have Simpson’s name associated with the new facility when it opens within the next six to 12 months.
Pasco County received $1.3 million in state funds to complete construction of the building, according to Sarah Andeara, one of the county’s public information officers.
Ryman Construction of Florida Inc., based in Pasco County, was the contractor on the building project while it was still owned by CARES. It’s not known if Ryman Construction will continue in that capacity or if the county will request bids from other potential contractors to complete construction of the building.
The services at the county’s current senior center in Dade City will be relocated to 13906 Fourth St. once that building is ready for occupancy, according to Brian Hoben, the county’s community services director.
The county’s current senior center is located at 13853 15th St., which is 10 blocks from the new location. That senior center is located in a 4,225-square-foot building that was constructed in 1965, according to Pasco County property appraiser’s records.
Services at the new senior center will consist of congregate dining along with a variety of senior activities, according to Hoben. Additionally, the new site will be used to load home-delivered meals, which is also offered at the county’s current senior center location, according to Hoben.
The leadership team will be the same at the new location on Fourth Street when it opens and the same team members will be working there as are now working at the location on 15th Street, according to Hoben.
