Expansion Of Saltmarsh Senior Center Endorsed By Select Board

The Select Board on Wednesday unanimously approved an addition to the Saltmarsh Senior Center, paving the way for the Nantucket Center for Elder Affairs (NCEA) to expand the building amid increased community demand.

As the town owns the land the building sits on, the Select Board's endorsement was needed for the project to move forward. However, the NCEA will find its own funding, and further permitting is still needed.

The 600-square-foot expansion will enclose an existing deck with an addition, providing further space for operations.

Since the Saltmarsh Senior Center was built, Nantucket’s population has skyrocketed by over 250 percent, with around 2,500 seniors now calling the island home. Last year, the NCEA ran over 65 programs with over 400 participants. Faced with this dramatically increased demand, staff have been forced to limit the number of seniors at some events and cut back entirely on others.

The decision to expand the Saltmarsh Senior Center was made in part because the town voted against relocating Our Island Home last year. Had Our Island Home been moved, the Saltmarsh Senior Center would have taken its place. While voters will have another chance to move Our Island Home this spring, the NCEA is hedging its bets by moving forward with permitting for the expansion.

The expansion was designed by Val Oliver, and Paul Santos serves as the engineer.