WILBRAHAM – After learning that its top site for a new senior center was located on unbuildable wetlands this past summer, the Senior Center Feasibility Committee is back to work reviewing a new site for a senior center at the former U.S. Post Office, located at 2 Crane Park Drive.

Director of Elder Affairs Paula Dubord told Reminder Publications Selectman Robert Russell met with the committee at its Jan. 31 meeting and told them about a proposal by local area developers Glen Garvey and Anthony Carnevale for the town to lease the former post office location, which would be renovated to fit the needs of a senior center.

“Everything is just really preliminary at this point. We have a Wilbraham developer who grew up in town who would like to see good use made of that space and [it] would be good for the center of town – to revitalize the center of town,” she explained.

She added the minimum requirements of a new senior center would include at least 100 parking spaces, two stories, and space between 12,000 and 15,000 square feet.

“The big question that came up is parking because we need at least 100 parking spots for a building that size and on that property there is not enough room,” Dubord said. “Parking is something that the town is looking into. They’re having their real estate attorney look into the property that abuts it from both sides. Its pretty much town property – you have the library and you have Crane Park – so is there something there that could be worked out?”

The town of Wilbraham currently leases 45 Post Office Park from the Scantic Valley YMCA, which is shared between the Recreation Department and the Senior Center.

There would be no debt exclusion or bonding for a new senior center at the old post office because the location would be leased, Dubord explained.

“It would be a building we would help design to our specific needs and we wouldn’t be sharing it with anyone else,” she added. “It’s a way to get a senior center in the very near future that would meet the needs without putting a huge burden on the taxpayers.”

The location is ideal for Dubord, who believes the site offers easy access.

“You’re next door to the library, banks, hair dresser, [and] coffee shop,” she explained. “It really could not be more ideal. One of the largest elderly housing units is less than half a mile down the road. Active seniors could walk to the senior center from Miles Morgan [Court] and Falcon Knoll.”

Although, Dubord said she believes the location would be the perfect fit she remains skeptical of the parking issue, which could eliminate it as a site.

“It’s exciting but I’m not going to get my hopes up,” she noted.

The committee’s last meeting was July 13 and during that meeting it decided to scratch the 7.26-acre 758V Main St. site, located behind St. Christ the King Lutheran Church, off its list. The decision was made due to the discovery of wetlands in the area that rendered the site unbuildable.

Selectman Robert Russell said the town is working to submit a request for proposals (RFP) regarding a location for a new senior center to any individual, business, organization that would offer a site for leasing or purchase.

He added the RFP hasn’t been issued at this point. Right now, Town Administrator Nick Breault is working to complete the preliminary stage of the RFP.

“In the normal course of putting out an RFP you have to give people enough time to respond,” Russell said. “I’d like to have it issued in the next few weeks, for sure.”

The town plans to have an architect examine the property to determine whether parking would be an issue, he noted.

“A lot of this is very speculative and very premature,” he explained. “I don’t want to get people’s hopes up that we’ve got something cooking here. We’re going to know an awful lot more in the next couple of weeks.”

Dubord said she spoke with Bob Page, president of the Friends of the Wilbraham Seniors, who told her the organization could raise $500,000 for the site to help pay for the cost and instillation of fixtures such as an industrial stove.

The Friends previously made a commitment in September 2015 to purchase the 758V Main St. location for $139,000.

“That would offset a lot of the cost, which would then lower the cost of the rent,” Dubord said.