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Commissioners push for a multigenerational building after consultants flag senior center deficiencies
Summary
The commission heard that the Rhododendron Park senior center is small, partially inaccessible upstairs and in need of major renovation; consultants suggested considering a multigenerational cultural facility or a larger combined arts/senior center, with ballpark program size and parking implications.
Consultants told the Kenmore Planning Commission Aug. 7 that the Rhododendron Park senior center is cramped and partially inaccessible and said the city should consider a multigenerational facility that could include arts, performance and senior programming.
Julie Blaszek and other consultants summarized the site conditions and the building’s constraints, noting a 2019 evaluation listed several deficiencies. Julie said the annex is accessible and useful for arts and crafts programs, but the original house is "chopped up into small spaces, low ceilings" and the upstairs is not used because of access limitations.
Missy Smith, the arts and culture consultant, described a potential cultural center prototype: "We looked at things that were expressed in those meetings, at a facility around 28,000 square feet, which would include, like, an art gallery lobby kind of similar to what's here, a performance space to seat maybe 75 to maybe up to a 100 people..." Commissioners noted parking capacity and integration with waterfront trailheads would be key considerations, and several suggested multigenerational design to allow flexible uses and better utilization of limited parking.
Ending: No commitment was made to a specific site or design. Commissioners asked staff to treat the senior center and possible cultural facility as a high priority for the PROS update, to examine parking implications and to explore co‑location and funding strategies rather than advancing a detailed building plan at this stage.
