The St. Johns County Council on Aging has been working on its “shelter and shade” project, which revolves around improvements to the senior center and adult day care at 180 Marine Street in St. Augustine, for quite some time now.
However, the project is getting close to finally getting underway as the process of gathering permits for it is taking place.
According to St. Johns County COA executive director Becky Yanni, the project is expected to get started this spring and although a timeline of completion is still not ironed out, she does not expect it to be too long before people will be able to take advantage of the updates.
“Everything is exterior, so only a little bit of electrical work will have to be done with a few ceiling fans and lighting that may slow it down some,” Yanni said. “Everyone can’t wait to get the bulldozers moving dirt around.”
The focus of the project is to create a covered bus portico where seniors currently get dropped off at the front entrance of the center, which will help eliminate seniors getting dropped off having to deal with rain and the ever-changing Florida weather.
Along with the covered shelter, the drop-off area roadway will also be elevated so that anyone exiting the bus will not have to use a ramp to get to the entrance of the center.
“It’s all about providing the best accessibility possible for all those who use our shelter,” Yanni said.
The project is not expected to interfere with the day-to-day operations of the center while the construction is going on.
“We’re fortunate to have another back entrance with a handicap ramp so the operations will not be disrupted and people can continue to use the center as they usually would,” Yanni said.
The Coastal Community Center and the Sunshine Center, which serves as the adult daycare portion of the facility are all one building, and another aspect of the project will be covering and screening in a wooden deck currently attached to the Sunshine Center.
The goal of covering it and installing fans is to provide a place for those at the Sunshine Center to relax and be out in the fresh air year-round regardless of the elements. Installing heaters is also something that has been discussed.
The building proposed building updates will not stop there, as painting and adding landscape around the building is also something that will be done as part of the finishing touches of the project.
A marsh surrounds the center’s property, so a nature trail will be created that will allow for that natural beauty to be fully enjoyed by those at the center.
According to Yanni, extending the sidewalks and having a retaining wall along Marine Street leading up to the center is something that has also been talked about so that the community can have easier access to the center.
“We want the campus to be more accessible for everyone, but also a sense of pride for the entire community,” Yanni said.
