Iowa City’s senior center faces ‘community changing’ moment as population grows older

IOWA CITY — With people over 65 the fast-growing segment of Johnson County’s population, plans are underway to determine the future of the downtown Iowa City center that offers senior services.

The city owns the historic building on S. Linn Street and will be renovating the exterior for the first time in 41 years. But before it goes any further, the city — with input from the community — will need to decide if the Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center should remain downtown, or if there’s another location that might possibly serve the growing population better.

LaTasha DeLoach, Senior Center coordinator, said a master plan that fits within the budget is a “community changing opportunity.”

“It will include renovations that will draw more individuals, I believe, into the space,” DeLoach said of potential changes for the interior. “It allows us to be able to serve our population and populations to come in the future and in a much more accessible way.”

The center officers a wide variety of programming, including yoga, line dancing, arts and crafts, volunteer opportunities and advice for avoiding scams and healthy living.

Older adults in Johnson County

When Jeff Kellbach started his job as Johnson County’s aging specialist four years ago, the baby boomer population was the fastest growing cohort in the county — and there’s good reason for that.

Kellbach noted the quality services and resources available in the county, including health care, transportation, arts and culture, as well as free or low-cost events throughout the year. In his role, Kellbach helps older adults by connecting them to resources in the area and helping them along the way so their needs are met.

About 13 percent of Johnson County’s population is people 65 years and older, according to population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. In Iowa City, it’s 11 percent.

And that growth is expected to continue. The population growth of people 65 and older in Johnson County is faster than any other age group, said Bob Untiedt, executive director of TRAIL of Johnson County, a nonprofit dedicated to aging at home.

Untiedt echoed the same reasons Kellbach did for why Johnson County is an appealing place for older adults.

TRAIL of Johnson County is focused on helping older adults live and age safely in their own homes. The organization hosts social events and has volunteers who help older adults with various tasks, such as transportation, technology assistance and daily check-ins.

In 2021, the organization was averaging 38 requests per month for volunteer services, with some months having more than 70 requests, Untiedt said.

‘We keep people learning’

The Senior Center, a division within the city, has been serving older adults for decades. The center — which is open to all, regardless of what city they live in — aims to eliminate gaps so older adults can continue to “thrive in our communities,” DeLoach said.

The building at 28 S. Linn St. has been home to the Senior Center since 1981. It was built in 1904 and expanded in 1931 to its current size. It was home to the old Post Office until 1975.

The Senior Center offers classes, activities and volunteer opportunities, as well as space for rent. Tours are offered since it is a historic building on the National Register of Historic Places.

“We keep people learning,” DeLoach said, adding how there are “well over 1,000 people” who are members.

The Senior Center is a “community center,” DeLoach said. While the programming focuses on those who are 50 years and older, the center is open to everyone.

Kellbach praised the work of DeLoach and Senior Center staff for creating “dynamic programming with a community feel.”

“I think we're extremely fortunate in Johnson County to have a place like the center,” Kellbach said.

Senior Center master plan

The Senior Center master plan has been in the works since Dec. 2019, and an initial draft was presented in April to the Iowa City Council. The plan consists of three phases, with the first phase focusing on exterior renovation.

The master plan has $13.8 million in potential upgrades and renovations of the current building, which is about double the $6.7 million the city has budgeted.

The first phase is budgeted at $2.7 million for the exterior, including repairs to prevent water damage, window replacement and painting. Exterior work done will preserve the historic structure.

The remaining $3.4 million is intended for interior renovations — if the center remains downtown — which could include kitchen enhancements, heating and ventilation, air conditioning and focusing on green building strategies. Private fundraising to supplement the interior renovations is anticipated.

DeLoach said there will need to be a discussion of what upgrades are “wants” and which are “needs.”

The Senior Center master plan will ultimately need final approval from the Iowa City Council. Mayor Bruce Teague said it will be important for the council to hear feedback from the community, as well as making sure the space is accessible and inviting.

Taking the population growth into consideration also will be important, Teague said.

“As we continue to grow, we want to make sure that whatever space we have can accommodate,” Teague said. “I think that's a big part of what has to be there — how can this space work for us now and also many, many years down the line.”

What’s the best location?

The exterior work is anticipated to take as much as two years, said Redmond Jones II, deputy city administrator. This time will allow for a robust, ongoing public input process to understand what seniors are looking for, Jones added.

Senior Center staff is working on a survey to gather feedback from the community about the renovations, location and future programming because “this is a really big decision,” DeLoach said. The survey is anticipated to launch in the coming months.

Before money is spent on interior renovations, the city wants to find out if the current location is the best for programming or if there are other locations better to meet the needs of seniors, Jones said.

Some of the concerns DeLoach has heard about the current location is that it’s downtown and has a lack of parking. But on the other hand, the downtown location offers easier access by public transportation, Jones said.

“It's not going to be a simple conversation, but I look forward to hearing from the end users on what they expect and use and appreciate,” Jones said.

The question surrounding location is an important one because the space the Senior Center is in will directly impact programming, DeLoach said. Senior Center staff love the current building but are open to potential opportunities.

"We don't know where we we'll end up, but I know as a staff, we are open to doing whatever it is we need to do that the community expects of us, so we can serve the people we're supposed to serve,“ DeLoach said.

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