CENTER – On April 12, Center Mayor Archie Gallegos, Town Manager Cole Webb, trustees, and Center staff attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly remodeled Town Hall Annex Building at 295 S. Worth St.  

Mayor Gallegos held large red scissors in the middle of the ribbon across the front of the building as Town Manager Webb said, “When I first came here, I noticed we are limited on our open number of spaces for events and things here in Center. We wanted to find a place where seniors and the public could find a nice space to come together. With the help of ARPA monies and community support we were able to purchase this building. There have been some heavy renovations made in the building over the last couple of months. I think we are finally done.” 

Mayor Gallegos added, “We would like to welcome the whole community and surrounding communities to come and join the town in everything that they have at this new building.”  

Webb said the multi-purpose building would be known as, “the Town Halll Annex Building, Senior Center, and Municipal Court Building.”  

Center Trustee James Sanchez said, “As a board member I am proud to be here today. This is a big step for Center, we are progressing forward. This building is an indication that we care for the people here in town. This is a nice place to gather for bingo or for whatever. This is an excellent place for board meetings. Court will be held here, too, and it’s more spacious. Town Hall is almost 90% done too. We just continue to move forward.” 

With that Mayor Gallegos raised the scissors and officially cut the ribbon. Everyone who was present clapped and cheered.  

According to Webb, the renovations at the Town Hall Annex began about 6 months ago. Prior to the town purchasing it, it was known as the old pharmacy building. 

“So, the old tile floor was replaced. We came in and we gutted it. We replaced all the flooring. We took out the pharmacy counter and took out a lot of other things. We painted it, put a full kitchen inside of it and added a restroom to it,” Webb said.  

Webb said a full kitchen was added to benefit the seniors in town. The goal, once the Senior Center part of the building gets going, is they want to start doing bingo for the community and have the seniors possibly have a concession stand. 

Webb said they are looking at doing something for the kids, too, including a possible pop-up restaurant on the weekends for young chefs. 

“It’s not going to be used just for town meetings. The county has expressed some interest in using the building for different things,” Webb said.  

The annex building is where they will be holding Center town meetings from now on. 

“It’s a lot more spacious and holds about 100 people for town board meetings, and for gatherings and parties about 150. We will be holding all our board meetings here from now on, along with court, and workshops,” he said.  

Webb said he is excited about the new building. 

“When I got here there were a lot of people who expressed interest in a place that would be open so that they could have parties and different things. Bringing this building to life has really excited a lot of people. I know it will do well here,” he said.  

For more information the building, contact the Town of Center at 719-754-3497.