Burlington, Ia (The Hawk Eye)- The city of Burlington was set to move the Steamboat Senior Center into the depot after some work was done to the former Grier’s Diner space, but the seniors decided to remain in the center’s current location at 501 Jefferson St.
Mayor Jon Billups told the Hawk Eye “I can see advantages to them staying where they are”
The seniors held a unanimous vote not to relocate from their current location, despite the building’s flaws.
Billups said the idea to move the seniors into the depot came from a desire to help them have a better location, something the seniors wanted. At the time, the city was attempting to reconcile the unofficial parking pass program. Moving the seniors into the depot, which has a large parking lot, would help remedy these problems.
However, the depot wasn’t the ideal space for the seniors. The space in Grier’s would have been large enough to house only the office and kitchen for the senior center.
And, of course, people who take the train use that space to wait for the train or meet people.
With this in mind, the seniors decided the best thing was for them to stay in their current space.
