Cheyenne's new $10 million senior center begins construction
Nov. 16—An idea that has been 20 years in the works broke ground Thursday to begin construction of the new senior center in Cheyenne.
The current 8,500-square-foot senior center in Cheyenne has only six parking spaces, none of which are designated for handicapped drivers, and there are only two couches and three chairs in the TV viewing room.
"The current place, given space limitations and parking limitations, is due for replacement," said Cheyenne Housing Authority (CHA) Executive Director Greg Hancock.
From Pershing Boulevard, the new 17,000-square-foot senior center will look like only one floor, but it expands below into another floor accessible by stairs or elevator. It will have 78 parking spaces and host areas for exercise, gaming, open and private offices for various senior groups, an elevated bingo platform, vending, medical storage, showers and the most prominent room: the kitchen.
"This kitchen is going to be amazing," said architect Rande Pouppirt. "It's going to be the best equipped, first-rate kitchen for the food program here."
Between 125 and 150 people will be able to fit in the kitchen and cafeteria that will become the new home of the Laramie County Senior Services (LCSS) food program. The program offers food to seniors at inexpensive prices while incentivizing good nutrition and socialization.
Over the past 50 years, Laramie County's population has nearly doubled, and LCSS has struggled to keep up with the demand. One strategy they have taken to meet those demands has been to evolve from a program under CHA's umbrella to a nonprofit organization, Laramie County Senior Services Inc. The operations of the new 501©3 will be based in the new senior center.
Shanna Harris, the new director of the nonprofit, will be responsible for overseeing and managing the new senior center.
"It's an epicenter of Laramie County, meaning that we can draw people from all over," she said. "Cheyenne itself is growing further east and north and all over. So, this is a really good place for us to be and it's on a city bus route."
The location is situated within one mile of approximately 300 senior housing units and within five miles of an additional 700 units.
After not receiving sixth-penny tax funds in 2011 or 2017, hope for the new center was waning.
"Until 2021, we kind of thought we were dead in the water," Hancock said.
In November 2021, Laramie County Commissioners and voters approved a sixth-penny sales tax to support the project. The vote passed with more than 60% in favor of increasing sales tax from 5% to 6% to raise more than $10.1 million for the center.
But with the increasing cost of labor and materials, officials had concerns that the initial budget would no longer be able to support the construction if inflation continues to increase. The sixth-penny funds aren't completely raised yet, but they have secured enough money to begin construction in an effort to curb that burden.
"The commissioners were very concerned about inflation, and they pulled out of their reserves to fund this project so we could get started sooner rather than waiting until the sixth penny accumulated and then have funding."
On top of the $75,000 that the county commissioners appropriate to senior services each year, they provided an additional $150,000 to help get the project started earlier and $250,000 through their grants manager.
Sampson Construction will build the new senior center, and it is expected to be completed by winter 2025.
Noah Zahn is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle's local government/business reporter. He can be reached at 307-633-3128 or nzahn@wyomingnews.com. Follow him on X @NoahZahnn.
