Silver Springs to get top-of-the-line senior center

Silver Springs could have its new, top-of-the-line senior center/community center by this fall.

The building will be 10,000 square feet, plus a 2,000-square-foot thrift shop.

"I am very excited for the community of Silver Springs," said Edrie LaVoie, director of human services for Lyon County. "They have been scrambling for meeting space for a long time."

The new center is to be built next to the current senior center at 1050 Pyramid St., after which the old center will be demolished, except for a section that will serve as the thrift shop. Groundbreaking is set for Feb. 16.

"We hope we can eventually provide this sort of facility for all the areas of the county," Milz said. "But we can only take one bite of the apple at a time."

The building will have a commercial kitchen, dining facilities to seat 100 people and recreation areas for card-playing and other activities, according to architect Casey Jones.

The building will also feature a computer room and library, billiard room and lounge area, two smaller meeting rooms and a large meeting room that can be divided. In addition to the thrift shop, a small gift shop is included in the plans.

Jones said he expects the center to be completed in September or October.

The proposal, approved by the Lyon County Board of Commissioners, will cost $2.17 million and could go higher if the project includes a metal roof and sprinkler system currently under consideration. The original bid, won by Bison Construction, was for $1.48 million.

Jack Mosby, Lyon County facilities director, said the cost of this project has gone up 25 percent because the cost of building materials went up.

"For example, pavement went up 30 percent to 35 percent," he said. "The electric and plumbing are about $250,000 to $300,000 each."

Mosby said the building would have a stucco exterior and the cost of landscaping and irrigation were included. Also, costs of demolishing the old building were included in the plan.

County Manager Donna Kristaponis added that the current plans included a commercial kitchen, required by law to run senior programs, which costs $80,000. "This has gone beyond just being a senior center to becoming a community center."

She said Silver Springs needs space for meetings.

"The McAtee Building is often used for police training and is not always available for other groups," she said.

"We can also rent the building out for events like commercial dinners. We're getting more bang for the buck with the expanded use," she added.

With the new building, LaVoie hopes to reach out to a larger group of seniors. "We're hoping to bring in activities that some of the younger seniors might enjoy," she said. "We're going to ask the senior community to help us design activities."

She said the senior center was open to all seniors, but was planned to serve the communities of Silver Springs and Stagecoach.

"I'm very passionate about this project," LaVoie said. "We've been at this since 2002."

-- Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.

If you go

WHAT: Groundbreaking ceremony for Silver Springs Senior Center

WHEN: 11:30 a.m. Feb. 16

WHERE: 1050 Pyramid Street

CALL: (775) 577-5009

Fast facts

Some facts on the new center

• 5,800-square-foot senior section with two offices, storage, a library/computer room, card room, exercise and craft area, billiard room and dining area.

• 1,920-square-foot, full commercial kitchen with access from both senior and community areas.

• 2,280-square-foot community section with two small meeting rooms, one large meeting room that can be sectioned into two, storage cupboards and a coffee counter with sink.

• 2,000-square-foot activity building for thrift/gift store.