Senior Center and Housing Almost Ready

The Current Senior Center's content is being moved to the new location and it is hopped that it will be open and running next Monday.

It is unfortunate that the new Senior Center and Senior Housing is not place closer to the retail and hospitality shops on Barton Road where the General Plan had originally placed it. It is unfortunate that the Folks living at The Terrace will still require transportation to the Senior Center as it is not in walking distance. It is unfortunate that Barton Rd and Mt. Vernon have a 45mph Speed limit so the Seniors and GT Citizens can't use Light Electric Vehicles to run errands in town.

It is unfortunate that the contract was negotiated behind closed doors, and the full details were not and may still not be known to the Citizens and City Council regarding the long term total cost to the city. In addition it is unfortunate that the Citizens Voices of concern about the Noise, and High Density Housing and lack of a Real Environmental Impact Study, including traffic around a school were not received and required a Court Decision as a result of Citizens taking the City to Court to have a fair hearing of the issues and resolutions to their concerns, including the design of the Complex being fewer apartments, and 2 stories and not 3 as the Original Back Room Deal was pushed through the Council.

But, now that it is almost complete there are a few things to note. The PARK is PUBLIC and any part of it should be PUBLIC without discrimination to AGE or CLASS or don't call it a PARK. This is important because the California Development Regulation requires Green Space and PUBLIC PARK to be part of the Planned Use of Redevelopment Funds and to LIE or Falsify the report and call a Park PUBLIC when it is not PUBLIC is a violation.

In addition, it is about time that the Citizens and City Council recognize that some of our youth may want to grow things in a Community Garden, or have a farm animal or chicken as a 4H project... Providing them a place to have this activity is just as important as a "Park" for Seniors to contemplate their turnips. A community garden is a great way to bond youth with seniors. Your about to mess up an opportunity to build a meaningful relationship that may be a great mentoring situation.

When the City Council does one thing for Seniors they should counter it with something for youth and in particular the 12 to 18 year olds who have been neglected in this community.

Nationally we spend $6.00 on Seniors for every $1.00 spent on Children, and a fraction of that goes to the most neglected age group... 12 to 18 year olds. When they need the most the get the least... How has that been working for you is the Dr Phill question... that the City and Community needs to ask.


The struggle behind the building of the Senior Center and Housing is a direct result of the lack of good managment practices of Open Bidding, sticking to a General Plan applying the same codes and standards to all developments, hearing and adjusting to Citizens Concerns. These failings are on the feet of Tom Schwab. Including prolonging the law suits and appealing the judges decision rather than to yeild and comply there was contined effort to reverse the judges determination. This all increasing legal costs to the city and developer.

This is only a phase in the Senior Housing and Center's Epoc...
But, for now, welcome the new neighbors, and enjoy the Center and eventually the park.

The Citizens will be paying for it for a long long time.... Paying off DEBT BONDS will be in part the task of the City of GRAND TERRACE...