Commissioners Provide $250,000 in Funding for Phoenixville Senior Center Property Infrastructure

Commissioners provide $250,000 in funding for Phoenixville Area Senior Center property infrastructure

Thanks to $250,000 in funding authorized by Chester County Commissioners Michelle Kichline, Kathi Cozzone and Terence Farrell, the crumbling retaining wall at the back of the Phoenixville Area Senior Center will be rebuilt. 

The much-needed funding, provided to the Senior Center by the Chester County Department of Community Development using federal Community Development Block Grant funds, will ensure the retaining stone wall that supports the back of the property, and that is located along Prospect Avenue, will be rebuilt and strengthened. 

In a joint statement, County Commissioners Michelle Kichline, Kathi Cozzone and Terence Farrell said, “The Phoenixville Area Senior Center is a thriving community and recreational facility, and seniors in both Chester and Montgomery Counties rely on the many services the Center provides.  With community breakfasts three days a week, as well as health and wellness programs, art classes, game events and other support services, the Center is always busy, and the parking area always full.  Rebuilding the retaining wall is crucial and we are pleased to be able to provide the funding for it.”

Julie Gaudan, Executive Director of the Phoenixville Area Senior Center said, “The huge price tag associated with a repair of this magnitude was a devastating blow for our small nonprofit. This rehabilitation was not an optional repair that we could afford to put off and the Chester County Commissioners immediately responded to our request for help. With the generous assistance of the Chester County Commissioners and Chester County Department of Community Development, 1300 area seniors will continue to receive services uninterrupted.”

Rehabilitation of the retaining wall begins immediately and it is anticipated that the project will be completed within 16 weeks. West Chester-based Traffic Planning and Design are the engineers for the project, and GroundTec, Inc. of Hatfield, PA will be rebuilding the retaining wall. 

The wall is completed.  Look for information about the ribbon cutting ceremony!

Setting the Last block. January 24, 2020

The Wall is progressing. Mid-January 2020

On Monday October 28, 2019 the Chester County Commissioners, Michele Kichline, Terence Farrell, and Kathy Cozzone, the Board of the Senior Center, the contractor, GroundTec, Inc, and engineer TPD, and executive director Julie Gaudan broke ground for the Wall Rehabilitation Project to replace the retaining wall on Prospect Street below the Senior Center. Construction began this week with the removal of the trees.