Roget Park development part of plans for new senior center

The city of Lodi is in the process of negotiating a contract for an affordable senior housing project next to Roget Park, located at 2246 Tienda Drive, near Target. The tentative plan would preserve 4.3 acres of the park, pictured above. (Dan Evans/News-Sentinel)

Roget Park development part of plans for new senior center

By Maggie Creamer
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Thursday, June 25, 2009 2:10 AM PDT

Comments (19 comment(s))

The Lodi City Council received its first glance at plans for a senior housing apartment complex next to Target this week.

The council also focused on the development of the adjacent land into Roget Park during its Tuesday morning meeting.

Plans for the senior center at 2246 Tienda Drive include 77 to 80 units for seniors. The city is in negotiations with Hayward-based nonprofit developer Eden Housing that has done similar projects in Manteca and Tracy. The next step is city staff will meet with surrounding property owners in the next month to get feedback on the plans, said Rad Bartlam, the city's community development director.

The city is using $650,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds for the project.

All three plans city staff are considering include the development of Roget Park.

Gordon Bruce Roget donated 4.3 acres in the early 1990s to be made into a park. Then the city bought 3.4 acres of adjoining land to make the entire area into a park, but the city has never had the money to do it.

The Roget family supports using the 3.4 acres the city bought for a senior center, Community Development Director Rad Bartam said, and are happy that the park will be developed.

Project at a glance

Location: 2246 Tienda Drive
Number of units: Between 77 and 80, according to the city's three possible plans.
Cost: $650,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds.
Developer: The city is in negotiations with Hayward-based nonprofit developer Eden Housing that has done similar projects in Manteca and Tracy.
Senior center amenities:

A community garden for flowers and vegetables. It will have raised beds, so seniors will not have to bend down as far.

Common living room and activity area.

Social programs to connect seniors with the community.

Services brought to residents.

Front doors of units will be different colors since seniors' vision and memory decline as they get older.
What's next? The next step is for city staff to meet with surrounding property owners in the next month to get feedback on the plans.
Source: Eden Housing, city of Lodi

The city plans to make it a passive park, so the main improvement will be installing sidewalks and lighting. Councilwoman Susan Hitchcock voiced concerns about how the park is only visible from the road on one side.

"Most of our parks that are really well used are open on two or more sides, so you have a clear view of it ... Those are the parks where people feel comfortable to send their children to play," she said.

Hitchcock suggested putting the senior center on the back edge of the property and having the park in the front, so it is more visible. But people in the residential neighborhoods will oppose it, Bartlam said.

Having a senior center will improve safety because people will be monitoring what goes on the park, Bartlam said.

"We don't really have a lot of options, except having many eyes on the park and to open up the back," he said.

Even though Hitchcock supports the project, she is worried about the city changing course on the property.

"We are creating a park that is far from ideal. I'm not sure if it useable this way in terms of public safety and access," she said. "The park, which was there first, has taken a back seat to this project."

Staff said the city will make changes to improve safety.

The sidewalk will be big enough to accommodate a public safety vehicle. Staff said there will be lights throughout the park, with brighter ones near the senior center and more ambient ones near the residential neighborhoods. The Roget family also approved of the city removing some eucalyptus from the back area of the park, so it will be more open, Bartlam said.

The vacant lot has not had many safety problems in the past with the exception of a stray dog, he said.

Councilwoman JoAnne Mounce said she understood Hitchcock's concerns about the park, but said the city does not have enough money to make both properties into a park.

She is pleased with the location because she was worried about crime at the previously suggested site for the senior center, on Lockeford Street across from the Grape Festival Grounds.

Contact reporter Maggie Creamer at maggiec@lodinews.com or read her blog at www.lodi-news.com/blog/citybuzz

Reader Feedback

Lodian wrote on Jun 30, 2009 11:36 PM:

" dogbark: Seriously, I did think about kids in the park and the elders not so happy about it. Many older folks would enjoy the park outside their window, but others may be pretty nasty to the park visitors. I hope it all works out. "

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