2015 year in preview: Chelsea Community Center strides forward

The new community center is scheduled to be complete this spring.

The building was originally scheduled for completion by July, but the architect on the job, Bob Wannanger, said it should be ready by March or April. 

Construction began in May 2013 for the $3.68 million, 29,000-square-foot building, and as of Dec. 1, the project was about 60 percent complete. Wannanger said the walls are all up and the team is currently adding roofing to the different parts of the building. Once that is complete, work will begin on the interior. 

“We are very excited,” Wannager said. “The mayor is really excited about it, and the community is excited about getting it started.”

Wannanger worked closely with Chelsea Mayor Earl Niven and the city council to develop a four-page list of things they wanted to see in the community center. That, paired with interviews with seniors and other citizens in Chelsea, determined the vision for the center. 

Once complete, there will be a full gymnasium, which will also be used as a multi-purpose room, with a walking track above it. A senior wing, complete with a kitchen, eating area, game room, arts and crafts area and large gathering room for large group activities, will provide meeting places for seniors and the entire community. 

“We’re bringing a facility to Chelsea that gives senior adults more activities and provides more basketball courts, a walking track and exercise areas for light exercise,” Niven said.

There will be walking trails, picnic benches and outdoor games such as horseshoes to encourage outdoor activities. Many events will also be held at the community center, so Niven said to watch for announcements about them as the project draws closer to completion.