Birmingham Seeks Input on Senior/Recreation Center with Online Survey and Open House
(Oakland County Times, March 31, 2024)
Birmingham, MI – The City of Birmingham is asking for community feedback about a senior/recreation center that is in progress. Located at 400 East Lincoln, the center will be the new home of Next, and provide recreation for people of all ages. The building was purchased from the YMCA.
According to a press release, Next is a 501(c)(3) organization that has provided the City and other community-based partners with senior services for more than 45 years. Here are the ways to chime in:
Community Survey – Share Feedback by Friday, April 26
The Senior/Recreation Center Community Survey may be completed online on Engage Birmingham at engage.bhamgov.org/senior-rec-center by Friday, April 26. Respondents may also complete the survey in print form at bhamgov.org/sccsurvey and mail it back to the City or drop it off at City Hall, the Baldwin Public Library, The Birmingham Museum or Next (print copies of the survey will be available at each of these locations).
Community Open House – Monday, April 29, 6-8 p.m.
The community is invited to attend a Community Open House at 400 East Lincoln on Monday, April 29 from 6-8 p.m. Attendees will tour the facility, view interactive displays and hear from subject matter experts regarding plans for Birmingham’s future senior/recreation center.
“This project is aligned with our strategic goals and we are pleased to move forward with a facility that will benefit Birmingham and surrounding areas for many years to come,” said Birmingham City Manager, Jana Ecker. “We hope the community will take advantage of public engagement opportunities and share their ideas and vision regarding what should be included at this new facility.”
The City purchased the current YMCA building at 400 East Lincoln last July, with the vision of it becoming a future Senior/Recreation Center for collaborative use. The YMCA had planned to sell the building, creating a unique opportunity for Birmingham, the surrounding communities and Next. On November 7, 2023, Birmingham residents approved a senior millage—a .33 mill levy for a three-year term—enabling the City to make interim improvements to the YMCA building and establish a sinking fund to contribute toward the cost of permanent improvements to the building for use as a senior/recreation center.
In an effort to engage the public as much as possible in the planning process, the City hired a private architectural firm, NORR, to perform a building assessment and conceptual design for the location. The City has also formed an Ad Hoc Senior/Recreation Center Committee to assist with the project. Learn more about NORR, the Ad Hoc Senior/Recreation Center Committee and the new facility at bhamgov.org/scc.
