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Commission on Aging urges City Council to protect Costick Center services; residents oppose moving programs to The Hawk
Summary
Farmington Area Commission on Aging reported more than 200 residents attended two December listening sessions and urged council not to relocate Costick Center programs to The Hawk; commissioners and councilmembers stressed need for careful planning, consultant engagement and site visits by council.
The Farmington Area Commission on Aging told the City Council Feb. 10 that participants in two December listening sessions overwhelmingly oppose relocating programs from the Costick Activities Center to The Hawk and urged council to prioritize senior services when considering facility options.
Dr. Katherine Marshall, a commissioner, said the Commission conducted two sessions in December with combined attendance of more than 200 residents — about 113 in the morning session and another roughly 100 in the afternoon — and that 83% of attendees reported using the Costick Center more than three times per week. Commissioners then summarized common concerns: difficult traffic at 12 Mile and Orchard Lake Road for older drivers, lack of parking at The Hawk during summer programming, a small and cold pool that would not replace the Costick Center’s aquatics programming, and the higher cost of programs at The Hawk versus the subsidized Costick offerings.
Marshall and Commissioner Julie Viliani told council that attendees also raised operational issues at the Costick Center, including limited gym and multipurpose space, insufficient kitchen capacity to support home‑delivered meals, and locker rooms that are hard for older adults to use safely. Commissioners said volunteers noted the city’s five‑day hot meal delivery program is a distinctive service many other cities lack.
Council members acknowledged the concerns. Councilmember Bridges and Mayor Pro Tem Dwyer both said they are aware the city hired consultants to evaluate options and emphasized that fiscal responsibility must be weighed with quality‑of‑life considerations for older residents. Councilmember Bruce said he believes a new senior center eventually will be needed and suggested a bond could finance a long‑term facility.
Commissioners asked council members to visit the Costick Center and see programs firsthand. Dr. Marshall said the Commission will hold its next meeting at City Hall on Feb. 25 at 5:30 p.m. and expects to work with the city manager and the newly engaged consultant to integrate resident input into the planning process.
The Commission framed its presentation as advocacy and asked council to consider resident testimony in forthcoming consultant work and council decisions about any relocation or replacement of the Costick Center.
