The proposal to move Darien's Senior Center and Board of Education offices met with objections about crowding and concern that alternatives have not been considered. First Selectman David Campbell laid out details of the plan at the Representative Town Meeting Monday, but Darien resident Karen Doying wasn't swayed.
"As I age, I want to have nice facilities. I feel it's a mistake to put the Senior Center here with the crowded conditions of the whole community," she said, referring to the plan to turn the current school board site into a combination Senior Center and Community Center. "There's going to be traffic here all the time. If there's a community center here, there's going to be a parking problem."
Frank Adelman from District VI said, "I don't think anybody disagrees that the current Senior Center is in sorry shape. But I think that we are systematically focusing on this solution alone, with no regard for alternatives. There are still a lot of options to consider."
Campbell tried to assure people that the move would benefit the town, and that their concerns were unnecessary. "The demand and use for the Senior Center is growing. We want nothing but to make everybody proud. I assure you it will be a beautiful place," he said. He also addressed concerns about parking. "There are more parking spaces here than a lot of places in town. And a lot of seniors will be getting dropped off or taking the bus, not parking."
Campbell said the next step is to appoint a building committee. Town officials hope to begin moving the Board of Education offices by the end of the summer, and the Senior Center by next fall.
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