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Jacobson building 1st floor to be Vitality Center
Site slated to open in early 2010
Published Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The lower level of the historic Jacobson Apartments building on Broadway Avenue is set to become the home of Albert Lea’s new Vitality Center.
During the Albert Lea City Council meeting on Monday, councilors approved the transition of the city-owned building into a space where local residents and tourists can go to learn about increasing vitality. It comes just two weeks after the close of the pilot AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project, which aimed to help residents lead longer, healthier lives.
Plans are to have the building renovated, refurbished and opened to the public by the beginning of 2010, said City Manager Victoria Simonsen.
Two $10,000 donations, one from AARP and another from United Health Foundation, will kick-start the renovations. The remaining remodeling and furnishings will come from grant funding, donations and in-kind gifts, she said.
Plans for the center were officially announced Oct. 13 at the celebration of the conclusion of the pilot Vitality Project; however, now that the city’s donation of space in the Jacobson Apartments building is official, those plans can move forward.
Simonsen said the public will be able to view the space in the Jacobson Apartments building, 211 S. Broadway Ave., before it is transformed during an open house scheduled for Nov. 12.
At that event there will also be a list available of the specific items and services that will be needed to open the center by the first of the year.
Simonsen said if people have an interest in contributing to the project, they are welcome to get involved.
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Comments
Posted by snowbird1 (anonymous) on October 27, 2009 at 3:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
$20 thousand won't go far and where is the rest of the money coming from? Who will pay for upkeep, heat, lights and all that goes with it. You know eventually it will be the taxpayers who pay. Another project that will cost all of us. One thing our city fathers know how to do is spend our money on things that are not really needed.
Posted by one_voice (anonymous) on October 27, 2009 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree snowbird. The Big V sure knows how to spend money and put this city into budget cuts.
Posted by Intheknow (anonymous) on October 27, 2009 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The city can't afford to keep current services funded and facities open ... So Victoria decides to start a whole new program and in yet another facility?
Sure she gets lots of publicity and beefs up her resume but meanwhile
What current city staff hours or positions will be cut to fund this?
Police? Fire?
Posted by churbo (anonymous) on October 27, 2009 at 6:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a good thing no questions asked. Like a few others around here I am currently unemployed because of the economy. Im am concerned where the city will get operating capital for this. It will take people to run it. They dont work for free. My opinion we need police and firefighters before this.
Posted by 57boy (anonymous) on October 27, 2009 at 6:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"VICTORIAISM" sound familar ?????
Posted by Straight_Forward (anonymous) on October 27, 2009 at 9:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Since Big V is asking for donations, and wants to cut peoples jobs. Maybe she shoud donate that $400 a month she receives for he car allowance to this project since she thinks its such a great thing. Once again there she goes spending all our tax payers money.
Posted by snowbird1 (anonymous) on October 27, 2009 at 11:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
maybe our city fathers learn to live with what a lot of us are living with now. would teach them a little better how money has to be spent. a salary freeze for the highest paid public employes would be a good place to start then they could use what they save to finance all the new things they seem to think are importan. we know we will never see this.
Posted by controlledhyperness (anonymous) on October 27, 2009 at 11:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No, but would be nice. I know that the Council, as well as the County Com. guys took a pay freeze...why not the top dogs as well??
Posted by SunMan (anonymous) on October 28, 2009 at 12:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So what do you geniuses propose to do to improve Albert Lea where people and jobs will stay and/or move here?
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