They said yes!

Generations president George Bonnema cheered out loud after organization members voted unanimously to purchase the next-door lot for their new building construction.
“Wow! I get to stay on as president!” he exclaimed from the front of a crowded senior dining room Monday afternoon. “I was going to resign if you said no.”
Bonnema and a handful of other volunteers have been working tirelessly over the past year to resurrect an aging Senior Citizens group.
Increasing members and improving their meeting space are the first goals for the organization that’s grown from about two-dozen members to over 200 in a matter of months.
The big item on Monday’s agenda was to vote on the purchase of Terry Thone’s property next door for $125,000.
Thones will keep the house and two garages to move off the parcel, and they’ll pay closing costs.
Bonnema said Generations has money in an account to pay for the lot, thanks to public commitment from the Luverne City Council and Rock County Commissioners.
The county will contribute $30,000 per year over the next five years, and the city approved $150,000 over three years.
Meanwhile, fundraising has secured thousands of dollars toward new construction, which is estimated at $2.5 million.
 
Build new instead of renovate
Before Monday’s vote, Bonnema brought members up to speed on building plans as they developed.
The group originally planned to preserve the newer portion of the senior building (the kitchen and dining room) and replace the south part of the building, known as the Lincoln House built in the 1880s.
But construction professionals pointed out the current kitchen would need to be brought up to code,
“So, our $700,000-$900,000 project became a $1,795,000 project, or round it up to $2 million,” Bonnema said.
He also learned the flat roof is leaking and the north wall is pushing out, due to moisture in the compacted base.
“Finally, one of our members asked, ‘For $2 million, don’t you think you could build what you want instead of building within the footprint you have now?’” Bonnema said.
“The answer is ‘yes,’ but for our people, location is key.”
He said many of the current meal site users walk from their nearby apartments, many of them from Blue Mound Tower and Centennial.
With that in mind, attention turned to a new building to the north — with an attached walkway to the east entrance of the Blue Mound Tower.
The idea was that the adjacent structures would present opportunities for both Generations and for Tower tenants, many of whom already use the meal site resources.
The current Generations lot would become parking both for Generations members and Blue Mound Tower tenants.
But security issues, setback requirements and other hurdles sent Bonnema and his team back to the drawing board.
“One day someone mentioned to me that Terry Thone and his wife, Mary, are considering selling their house,” Bonnema said.
That prompted discussions, an offer, a counter offer and a negotiated agreement that Generations members considered Monday.
 
Space to thrive
Architect plans haven’t been drawn, pending approval of the lot purchase, but Bonnema said the current Generations space is 7,210 square feet and the Thone property is 13,609 square feet.
“That’s almost double the space that we have here,” he said. “That’s huge for us as far as having appropriate meeting room spaces we need down the road.”
At the group’s dessert fundraiser this spring, Bonnema said Generations serves an important purpose in the community by providing nutritious meals and social connections.
“This is what Generations is about — living well and aging well,” he said.
“It’s not about age groups; it’s not about us and them. It is about what we can do together, as our new name, ‘Generations,’ implies.”
In order to carry out this mission, Generations needs a new building.
“That’s where this all started happening,” Bonnema said Monday.
“That’s why we’re here today talking about buying this property to build a brand new building exactly the way we need it.”
He reminded the group of its purpose.
“Our goal is to get adequate meeting space so we can do things that are appropriate as a group of people,” Bonnema said Monday.
“Because once this building is built, it’s not going to close at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. This building is going to be available for activities, games and educational programs staffed by volunteers.”
He pointed out that Rock County will soon have more people over the age of 65 than under the age of 18.
“We’re not going away, and neither are the services we’re going to need,” Bonnema said.
He added that he considers the Generations mission a calling.
“My goals are not my goals. My goals are to fulfill the purpose that God put me on this earth for,” Bonnema said.
“I thank you for participating and I thank you for being here today. That’s incredible encouragement for us to see that you’re interested in what’s happening.
Once the Thone lot is cleared, possibly by June 1, construction can start on the new Generations building, if enough funds have been raised.
After the group moves into the new building, the current Generations structure will be demolished and replaced with a 48-stall parking lot, with handicap entrance on the east side.