Almost since the first site

was purchased to house Fayette Senior Services in 1978,

there has been an active hope that a larger facility that

could offer more services and options to seniors would

someday be a reality.

Through the years various

boards and directors at Fayette Senior Services have been

close at times to seeing their dream for a new building

come true. However, each time they ran into a wall, which

ultimately stopped the process.

With the explosive growth

of the senior population in Fayette County, it has become

imperative for the agency to expand its services and to

find a new location. The original, and current facility

on Lee Street in Fayetteville, the garage, trailer

and house, equal 4,161 square feet. It was built in 1905

and can serve 50 residents.

Andy Carden, director of

FSS, said, "There is no room to expand. The facility

is a fire hazard. The growth of the county has been such

that we need to grow to address their needs. We can't do

that where we are."

He continued, "Seniors

need to be treated like first-class citizens, not

forgotten."

In 1996 the possibility of

moving into the old Fayette County High School facility

was actively pursued. By 1997 the FSS Board had expanded

the quest to include other options. The board was

considering building a new facility on the current site

on Lee Street, on what is known as the McElwaney

property, or possibly on the YMCA property off Ga.

Highway 54 west of Fayetteville.

The board approached the

Fayette County Commission regarding its pursuit of a new

facility and, in late 1998, the board approved

designation of three acres for a new senior citizen

facility. The property was to be on the land that

currently houses the county jail and, according to the

county's current plans, will house a new jail and

judicial facility.

According to Carden,

"We cranked up our energy level when we received the

three acres."

In 1999 the commissioners

withdrew the reservation, as definite plans had not yet

been drawn up for the jail and judicial complex.

Commissioners Harold Bost and Greg Dunn addressed the FSS

board and explained the situation, and assured them they

would ultimately be provided with the land; it just might

be in a different location.

In August 1999 the

commissioners approved a conceptual site plan that

included three acres for the new senior facility. In

September, the commissioners officially designated the

land for the new senior facility.

In the interim months, the

FSS board was not idle. They visited other senior

centers, set up a design subcommittee to discuss programs

and future needs FSS should plan to meet and put together

a fund development committee.

The committee requested

bids from architectural firms and hired Allen-Smith

Consulting Firm as the project consultant and grant

writers for the Community Development Block Grant

Application. When the architectural bids were received,

FSS reviewed them and selected Flynn-Finderup Architects.

Carden has been actively

pursuing funding sources, doing research and has been

involved in every step of the process. According to Jim

Steinbach, building committee and FSS board member,

"Andy has been very meticulous about the

process."

The committee determined

the budget for the building of the new facility to be

$2.2 million.

FSS is actively pursuing

various grants from which it expects to net close to

$900,000. Fayette County currently allocates $25,000 a

year toward the group's building project. FSS expects to

have amassed close to $200,000 from the county funds by

mid-2000.

Fayette Senior Services

also is hoping that the citizens and businesses in the

area will assist in raising money for the building.

Through a variety of efforts board members are hoping to

raise $500,000 from the community. They will be holding

fund-raisers and will be talking one-on-one with business

and community leaders.

Their plans include

presentations to companies with a track record of giving

to senior organizations and other community efforts.

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