Costa Mesa : Council Commits City to Senior Citizens Center

The City Council has voted to commit itself to building a new senior citizens center that would centralize services for the elderly in the city, officials said.

A study shows that consolidation will allow Costa Mesa’s 11,500 senior citizens to make better use of services now offered at three senior citizens centers, said Charles F. Carr, city recreation superintendent.

Although a site has not been selected, city officials said they are considering buying the Mardan School of Educational Therapy, whose owners have announced intentions to sell, Carr said.

Under an agreement with the school, the city has a right of first refusal if the site--which was the Costa Mesa City Hall until the late 1960s--is sold, Carr said.

The center will be planned and administered by a nonprofit corporation formed by the council’s action on Monday, Carr said.