Build it; seniors will come

As construction projects go, we can do nothing but applaud the one now under way to build the Palmer Senior Center.

At a recent forum where state Rep. Carl Gatto debated Don Benson, who is challenging Gatto for his seat in the state House, Gatto said he sees Palmer fast becoming a destination for Alaska’s retirees. He hopes it will be the premier destination.

We see no reason not to join him in that hope. If Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the new facility is any indication, seniors have a lot to offer our community. At that event, they directed traffic and manned the various event-related tables.

They’re also a potent political force, as Rep. Bill Stoltze pointed out in his remarks at the ceremony. Stoltze described them as an effective lobbying force in securing the needed funding, $6 million of which — or half of what the project will cost — came in this year’s state capital budget.

Economically, having a robust senior population is nothing to scoff at.

The state is encouraging more seniors to live on their own, which means more property taxes and more money flowing into the coffers of retail outlets. It also means a healthy and robust health care sector.

If construction at and around Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is any indication, health care is a growth industry here. It’s at least a bedrock industry, and as the Mat-Su Borough’s largest private employer, one we count on for numerous high-paying jobs.

To keep living independently, these seniors need support, and they get that support from places like the Palmer Senior Center. The center stages medical clinics and serves meals. It provides rides to retail stores and hosts events.

All this is to say nothing of why Palmer’s seniors needed a new facility.

If you’ve ever been to the current center, you probably have noticed lots of things wrong with that building. We’ve heard it described as a fire trap that likely wouldn’t pass a code inspection.

The place is a warren of hallways with things stacked up wherever there’s room.

We recall showing up one election night to talk to poll workers and almost getting lost just trying to follow directions to find the bathroom. As it turned out, the bathroom also doubled as storage space.

It’s tough to see the logic of continuing to provide senior services in a building many of those seniors would have great trouble escaping in case of a fire or other emergency.

Which is probably why we haven’t heard anyone say the current building is adequate. And that’s also probably why so many of our state’s politicians showed up Wednesday to bask in the glow of the culmination of 17 years of lobbying and fund-raising.

“I’m looking forward to being in it in about 30 years,” Gov. Sean Parnell said.

We’re pretty sure he was talking tongue-in-cheek, but if that pans out, here’s hoping that in 30 years the facility will be one Parnell can be proud to frequent.