Proposal to add affordable housing to McGovern Park Senior Center has some worried about the facility’s future

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – A proposed plan to redevelop the McGovern Park Senior Center will be presented to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors on Thursday, June 26.

According to the project proposal, 5.5 acres would be leased to Jewish Family Services to create a mixed-use senior/community center and affordable housing project at McGovern Park.

“We want to save McGovern. We know it’s a gem of the community,” said Shakita La-Grant-McClain, the Director of Health and Human Services in Milwaukee County. “Our proposal to the board was to create 30 to 55 units for older adults 55 and older and to renovate the senior center in this park.”

County leaders say it would cost $1.75 million over the course of the next five years to renovate the facility. Some believe this plan could be the way to prevent it from closing down.

“If we vote no, my worry is that the senior center will be shuttered, it will be an abandoned, unsafe, dangerous building in a park, and it will become Northridge Mall the sequel," Sup. Shawn Rolland said.

While some county leaders believe it’s the best move to save the center from closing, some seniors who use the facility are worried affordable housing could make drastic changes to the place they go to relax and socialize.

“I’ve met a lot of beautiful people. We enjoy each other’s company, we do all sorts of activities,” said Karen Harrison, who attended a dance class at the facility on Wednesday, June 25. “I feel like to me, we as seniors, we’re being looked over at this point. We don’t care about the housing, take that someplace else.”

Sup. Felesia Martin said she has heard concerns from people in the district she represents and thinks adding the affordable housing inside a Milwaukee County Park would create significant environmental impacts, equity concerns, and the loss of treasured green space.

“At face value, this project may appear to serve a public good, but once you look closer, serious concerns emerge,” said Supervisor Martin. “Many people in the community took time out of their lives to come out to multiple listening sessions and committee meetings and share their strong opinions against the proposal. They want a functional senior center, but they do not want housing in McGovern Park. Their voices must be respected.

The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors will meet to discuss the fate of the center on Thursday, June 26.