New Active Adult Center opens at revamped Civic Center Plaza

MADISON HEIGHTS — The new Active Adult Center has opened to the public, the final piece of the puzzle in the biggest capital improvement project in the history of Madison Heights.

The facility is new construction that connects City Hall and the library, which were renovated as part of the same project. All three buildings are part of Civic Center Plaza, on 13 Mile Road just west of John R Road. Altogether, the work cost about $11.4 million. Construction began in July 2022, handled by Frank Rewold & Sons, with architecture services provided by Partners in Architecture.

Fire Station No. 2 on John R was also part of the capital improvement project and was renovated for an additional $2.8 million.

The new Active Adult Center replaces the old center at 29448 John R Road, and has more room for recreation programming and other resources. The previous building spanned 11,554 square feet, while the new one is 14,022 square feet, with additional shared space of 2,400 square feet that includes the new Breckenridge Room in the library, existing bathrooms at both ends of the building, and the executive conference meeting space at City Hall.

City officials say one advantage is how police and paramedics are practically next door.

“I think there are many benefits,” said Roslyn Grafstein, the mayor of Madison Heights. “I was never comfortable having our (Active Adult Center) sort of isolated from the main campus. When you think about safety concerns, if something happens and police and fire have to get there, now they will be right across the parking lot. That was a huge selling point.”

The previous Active Adult Center had been in use since 1976. The city sold the property and approved a special use for a car wash and restaurant that will leave a portion at the back of the property undeveloped and converted to green space, with plans to retain 40 of the roughly 70 trees, and to plant nearly 60 more.

Senior services continue to be funded by various funding sources including program fees, SMART, a roughly half-mill senior millage, and general fund dollars. Offerings include cooking and craft classes, computer and exercise equipment use, luncheons, games, holiday parties, day trips and overnight trips. The center coordinates other services as well, such as transportation, yard work and minor home repairs. Staff there can also assist with computers, monthly Focus Hope food boxes, and a medical loan closet for residents and nonresidents alike.

Officials say the new building layout will make it easier for users to engage with everything the center has to offer. The structure features dedicated spaces for different activities, from a gym and computer lab to a fireside lounge and more — all separate for ease of programming. Contrast this with the previous building, where one space had to host multiple events without them overlapping.

“Since the three buildings are connected, residents are able to park once and walk inside to any of the three buildings,” said Jennifer Cowan, the senior coordinator, via email. “They can pay their water bill at City Hall, take a class at the Active Adult Center, and then pick up a book at the library, all without going outside or moving their vehicle.”

The new center also has a walking path inside the building, keeping patrons comfortable regardless of the weather outside.

“The Active Adult Center and library are also collaborating on programming, and with the buildings connected, it makes it much easier on staffing,” Cowan said.

Melissa Marsh, the city manager of Madison Heights, said in an email that the work done at Civic Center Plaza and the fire station was the most cost-effective approach.

“After having a feasibility study completed of all the maintenance, upgrades to mechanical systems and repairs needed at all four facilities, reconstruction was the most economical option,” Marsh said.

Grafstein believes the revamped plaza is also a smarter use of space.

“This is a larger facility that uses some of the space that was being under-utilized at City Hall, the perfect example being our old council chambers, which were basically used twice a month for a few hours, but we were still heating and maintaining them. Now, that space is being used as part of the new (Active Adult Center),” Grafstein said. “That space will also be used on a regular basis by groups beyond just the senior community. It’s much more energy-efficient, too, and again, it’s just so much safer with police and fire right nearby. For me, that’s huge.”