Senior Center Will Open Soon
Plans Are in Works for Site on 5600 Block of Archer Avenue
The city-sponsored Southwest Side Senior Service Organization has been “homeless” since leaving its former site last November after a dispute with the landlord, but Ald. Michael Zalewski (23rd) said he has been assured plans to hold a grand opening soon at its new location on the 5600 block of South Archer Avenue are moving forward.
Zalewski said the final hold-up has been getting telephones installed in the site, but it can open as long as cellular phones are available.
He said the plan now is to schedule the opening as soon as Mayor Daley will be able to attend.
The SSSSO, a satellite of the city Department on Aging’s Southwest Regional Center at 6117 S. Kedzie Ave., had rented space at 6012 S. Archer Ave. since its founding in 1995.
But after city officials could not come to agreement with the landlord, Donald Vetsch, about buying the property, the city looked elsewhere and leased vacant space at 5670 S. Archer Ave.
City officials decided to vacate the old site in November immediately after Vetsch gave notice that he expected more than $11,000 in back rent from an increase that he instituted a year before.
The new site is similar in size to the old location, about 6,000 square feet, but it was totally open and needed to be built out and furnished.
A kitchen and other amenities also needed to be installed so the seniors could continue serving hot lunches.
City officials told the dozens of seniors gathered in November at the old site that their new “home” would be ready by January, and Zalewski said he has been hearing daily from them wondering why it hasn’t opened yet.
Zalewski was upbeat this week after hearing from Department on Aging officials who told him that it could open in the next week or two, but last week he expressed frustration that the process is taking so long.
“It’s just frustrating that we can’t get it open,” said Zalewski on April 23.
He said the delay involved “city functions and red tape,” and had nothing to do with the property owner or private contractors.
“I’ve been in and out there a lot, overseeing the progress” said Zalewski, noting that counters have been built and the furniture is now in place.
“The only thing holding it up now is the phones,” said Zalewski. “For safety reasons, they didn’t want to open without the phones.”
But he said that following discussions this week, it was agreed that cell phones could fill the gap temporarily.
The new location will also serve a dual function, housing satellite City Clerk and Secretary of State facilities that are now located in a building at 5301 S. Cicero Ave.
Zalewski said that as soon as the new site opens on Archer, those facilities where people can go to get city stickers and renew their license plates will also move.
The shared facility is being promoted as a “one-stop shop,” where seniors can go for the activities the center offers, and take care of their other official business as well.
He said a developer plans to raze the building on Cicero Avenue to make room for a hotel.