George Bonnema updated Luverne City Council members at their April 16 meeting about plans for a new building for Generations (formerly Rock County Senior Citizens).
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 Bonnema reported last week that a new proposal has emerged to build an all-new facility a half block to the north and attach it via a walkway to the east side of the Blue Mound Tower.
This option, he said, would present opportunities for both Generations and for Tower tenants, many of whom already use the meal site resources.
“I know we’ll have a lot more people participating if it’s connected to the Blue Mound Tower,” Bonnema said. “And the tower has resources that Generations members could benefit from.”
The plan, which hasn’t been formally adopted, would put the Generations building on the Tower’s east parking lot, and the lot would move to the former Senior Dining location once the old building is demolished.
The city of Luverne Housing and Redevelopment Authority owns the Blue Mound Tower building and property and the city is the governing entity.
Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian said the building arrangement between the Tower and Generations has potential for multiple local benefits.
“The pairing of these two facilities would lend to partnerships on many ventures, meals and social interactions,” Baustian said. “You have to have space to do these things.”
Blue Mound Tower housing manager Tammy Johnson said she hopes the building arrangement will work.
“Being connected to Generations will enrich and enhance the lives of my tenants,” she said.
“Even though we are close in proximity, when the weather is cold, rainy, icy, snowing, windy, it's not fun or safe to cross that alley, especially for those not steady on their feet.”
Bonnema presented a proposal at the April board meeting of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, which manages the building.
“George’s enthusiasm is contagious, and the board is also excited about the proposal,” Johnson said, adding that they’re consulting with legal counsel and will research the idea before acting on the proposal at the May HRA meeting.
A few concerns would be to make sure the Blue Mound Tower remains a secure building with the keyless entry system and to work with builders and the city to make sure public transit and ambulance services are still able to get close to the building.
In general, though, Johnson described the idea as a “great marriage” of services and opportunities.
“Many of our folks choose not to go out when the weather is bad or most of the winter for that matter. Their meals are delivered to their doors, which is a wonderful service. However they're missing the socialization. It's not fun to eat alone and winters are long and isolating,” Johnson said.
“I'm excited about the new programs and recreation possibilities that Generations is proposing. My tenants could go back and forth several times a day without putting on a coat. Now that Generations has made their membership age 18, all the generations that live at the Tower could benefit from the amenities of a new building.”
At the April 16 council meeting, Bonnema talked about parking arrangements with the land swap. Parking spaces to the south would be adjacent to the BMT and Generations building, and the alley that previously divided them would follow an L shape from the west and turn south halfway through the block.
“There will actually be more parking spaces when we’re done,” Bonnema said.
He added that starting with a brand new building would lend itself to better use of space, especially in terms of building walk-in coolers and freezers and designing the dining and activity spaces.
“We’ll have more square footage to work with, and we can build it to our purposes,” Bonnema said.
With a brand new facility, he said construction wouldn’t disrupt meal services at the existing dining location, which will be demolished only after the new one is up and running.
Other discussion at Tuesday’s meeting centered on senior needs in the community and the fact that the local population continues to have a disproportionate number of seniors.
“People are moving to Luverne to retire,” Baustian said. “We’re going to need more services like this.”
Bonnema said the Generations organization is working to include younger seniors — not just those at the older end of the spectrum.
“It’s not like old people are going away,” he said. “We’re all on that conveyer belt whether we like it or not.”
He said that’s why it’s important to plan for an aging community and keep it vibrant and healthy.
“When you look at everything that’s going on here, there’s never been a more exciting time to be involved in the Luverne community,” Bonnema said.
He reported that fundraising efforts have produced more than $80,000 toward the estimated $2 million building projectand that he’s applied for several grants from organizations that appear to cater toward projects like the Generations building plan.