Groundbreaking ceremony next month for new Cairo senior center

CAIRO―Shovels will soon be hitting the ground for a brand-new and long-awaited senior center.

The Town of Cairo is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, September 15 at the 7485 State Route 32 site. The building, a former dojo, is already there. But a major transformation is on the way.

The vision to convert the building into a hub for local seniors dates back to 2021 when the Town purchased the property for $399,000. But plans never took off due to hefty renovation costs, sparking Greene County to step in and, in 2024, establish a capital project to fund the new center.

The county’s initial cash contribution of $1.9 million will be offset by a $500,000 state Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology (CREST) grant pledged by Senator Michelle Hinchey (D-Saugerties).

Greene County is also planning to tap into $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money, already in its coffers within the Quantum Fund that is used, but underutilized, to provide low-income loans to local businesses. County officials put in a request this spring to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), that administers the CDBG program, to allow the funds to be put toward the commercial kitchen at the new senior center.

Ultimately, county officials plan to use the new kitchen, centrally located in Cairo, as the cooking site for all congregate meal sites and the homebound meal program―closing the remaining kitchens but leaving those other senior center facilities open.

Cairo’s longtime senior center, located on Old Route 23 in Acra, is currently leased by Greene County as one of several congregate meal sites but has been described by town and county officials as beyond repair.

Under its agreement with Greene County, the Town of Cairo will retain ownership of the new center and must reimburse the county $300,000, either in cash or from proceeds should it sell the Acra property.

The capital project also includes running municipal water and sewer lines about 1,620 feet south on State Route 32, something that expanded the scope and cost of the project due to state Department of Health (DOH) regulations.

The groundbreaking ceremony begins at 10 a.m. and the entire community is invited to attend.

“Come be a part of this special moment as we break ground on a vibrant new space dedicated to supporting, connecting and honoring our local seniors,” the Town stated.