In the wake of Milwaukee County’s McGovern Senior Center closing, the County Board earmarked dollars for a solution to fix the long-term senior center gap in the county’s northwest side.
In a 15-2 vote by the County Board on May 28, supervisors authorized the infusion of $100,000 for planning, design, and cost estimating work related to future senior services. Supervisors Deanna Alexander and Steve Taylor voted against the allocation. Supervisor LeeVan Roundtree Jr. was excused from the meeting.
The money will support collaborative efforts between the county’s Department of Administrative Services and Department of Health and Human Services as the agencies parse through possible options for the new site as well as stakeholder engagement over programming and facility needs down the line.
The approval will require sign-off from County Executive David Crowley.
Supervisor Felesia A. Martin, whose district includes the McGovern Park area, applauded the decision, calling for extra community input as the project moves forward.
“Today’s action moves us one step closer to delivering a long-term solution that reflects the dignity and value of our older adults,” Martin said in a statement. “Our seniors on the northwest side deserve safe, accessible services and a long-term solution that is shaped by the community, not imposed on it.”
In June of last year, supervisors voted to reject a new low-income senior housing development at McGovern Park funded by a $2 million federal earmark. Martin was vocal in her opposition to the development at the time, urging officials to preserve the county’s green spaces.
The county had selected a 5.5-acre piece of McGovern Park’s 61 acres for the creation of a mixed-use senior or community center as well as 30 to 50 affordable housing units for adults ages 55 and above.
While the rejection of the housing development was a win for many constituents, the McGovern Senior Center had racked up $1.9 million in infrastructure work needed to fix chronic flooding and mold problems. In September, the center closed due to significant mold contamination caused by Milwaukee’s historic August flooding.
The center provided resources, services, activities and meals to seniors in the area, but in its absence, the county has since pointed senior residents to other Milwaukee-area programming at alternate locations, such as the Clinton Rose, Washington Park, Kelly and Wilson Senior Centers.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: County Board OKs $100K to plan future of McGovern Senior Center
Reporting by Vanessa Swales, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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