Corte Madera Town Council’s decision to lease vacant commercial space for the benefit of residents shows that leadership is willing to meet a community need.

The town has approved a five-year lease of space at the Bell Mt. Tam complex on Tamal Vista Boulevard for a new “Intergenerational Center,” reviving a hub for seniors that was opened at another location in 2018, but closed in 2020.

The 3,100-square-foot center — estimated to cost the town $337,000 per year to run — is in response to feedback from the June 2024 Age Friendly Corte Madera survey of local residents 60 years and older who said they would like to see a drop-in multi-purpose center with various classes, exercise programs and social activities.

The space, previously the home of Andy’s Market, was one of several the town eyed for possible locations.

Ultimately, the town still hopes to create a senior center at the town-owned Park Madera Center, but that is likely five to 10 years down the road.

There’s also not enough dedicated area available at the town center for the multiple spaces, including a patio, the Tamal Vista Boulevard site promises to offer. The Tamal Vista site will bridge the gap of meeting the needs and interests of local seniors.

In addition, the Tamal Vista space also has enough room to be rented to the Corte Madera Chamber of Commerce, which is moving out of its space at the Town Center shopping center.

Because of the center’s proximity to Redwood High School, and the intent to wrap up senior programs by 3 p.m., the town is also considering using some of the space for teen programs.

Age Friendly Corte Madera, through the Corte Madera Community Foundation, is committing $50,000 per year over the next five years to the center. Community fundraising will also continue to help support the center and its activities.

The town is paying its share by tapping its Measure F sales tax, the 2018 voter-approved levy, part of which was promised for senior services.

The center’s primary goal is to host varied activities for seniors in order to promote healthy living and reduce social isolation.

Preliminary plans include classes and activities such as book clubs, a sewing group, art classes, Zumba and chair yoga, bingo, bridge and poker.

Mayor Pat Ravasio said: “There’s just a desire for people to connect more and more.”

More than 18% of the town’s population is older than 65.

The center promises to provide opportunities for that segment of the town to “connect.”

Getting them connected and keeping them involved has long been a priority for the members of Age Friendly Corte Madera. The center, even if it’s a short-term, stop-gap initiative until creation of a permanent center at Park Madera, will provide an important hub for meeting that goal.