Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — City officials in Foley are moving forward with plans to build a new home for the Foley Senior Center. The project would replace the current center on East Rose Avenue, which city leaders say is too small for the increasing number of members. The new building aims to better serve older residents with more space and updated facilities. The Foley City Council has taken its first official step in the process.

The Foley City Council voted on Monday, March 23, to request proposals for plans to build the new Senior Center. City staff will now seek professionals to design the facility. The aim is to create a building specifically designed to serve as a Senior Center, rather than trying to adapt an older structure to meet those needs.

David Thompson, Foley’s executive director of leisure services, said the city initially considered using the current library building for the Senior Center. That plan would have been implemented when the new library opens later in 2026. After reviewing the idea, officials decided that a new, purpose-built facility would be more suitable. Thompson told council members that the city is ready to move forward with the search for design proposals.

“We’re looking at a brand new building,” Thompson told council members. “We’re asking at this time to go out for proposals.”

Mayor Ralph Hellmich stated that the current library next to City Hall will still be renovated, but it will serve other city needs. The existing Senior Center on East Rose Avenue has about 7,000 square feet of space. City leaders say that is no longer sufficient to meet the increasing demand for programs and activities for seniors. The mayor said the crowding has become a serious concern.

“We’re so overloaded in our current Senior Center,” Hellmich said. “There is such a need. We thought that the library could work, but after looking at that building, we found that it would require a lot of excess money to change the use of that building. It’s by far better to do a purpose-built building where you get better bang for your buck and then keep the old library for other uses.”

A site being considered for the new Senior Center is near the former National Guard armory behind City Hall. That building is already being renovated for city use. Foley plans to open new city offices and recreation facilities in the former armory later this year. Placing the Senior Center nearby would help develop a larger civic and recreation complex in the center of town.