Council approves funding plan to design and build District 2 senior center and aquatic facility

The council approved item 0.21 authorizing negotiation and execution of financing (up to approximately $46 million plus financing costs) for a District 2 senior center and aquatic facility. The project has been in planning for several years; staff said the property acquisition was completed in May and that design work will proceed in 2027 with construction expected to start in winter 2028.

Councilmembers representing the area and members of the TIRZ board described long‑standing need for the facility and emphasized community engagement and inclusive programming for older adults. Supporters framed the investment as correcting historic underinvestment in inner‑city neighborhoods; several councilmembers asked staff to explore whether parts of the project financing could be accelerated to shorten the TIRZ term for this specific project.