For far too long, the needs of Wellington’s senior citizens have taken a back seat to the village’s equestrians and young families. Now, the Village Council has a chance to finally do right by some of its neediest constituents.
Sunrise Senior Living wants to give the village $5 million for 5.3 acres of undeveloped parkland at K-Park on U.S. 441 for a 160-unit assisted- and independent-living center.
One of the Sunrise deal’s biggest cheerleaders is Councilman Carmine Priore, who tried to push his fellow council members to sell all of K-Park’s 67 acres four years ago for a much bigger assisted- and independent-living center. The council decided it wanted to keep the land for a park, which is now in doubt because of budget cuts.
It’s become a familiar routine for seniors, who have seen at least one other assisted-living center proposal hit the dust and their long-standing request for a community center fall on deaf ears.
The Sunrise offer, though, may be difficult to turn down. It would give the village a needed boost in a tight budget year, still leave plenty of parkland – 62 acres – for other uses and allow council members to deliver for a community so often overlooked.
Of course, nothing is simple in Wellington. In the past week, at least two more offers have been made for land at K-Park – one from the Cultural Trust of the Palm Beaches seeking 27.5 acres, the other from a Weston mortgage firm wanting to build a luxury, equestrian-style hotel and condos on 20 acres. The village is also trying to determine whether it is legally required to seek bids before entertaining any proposals.
That question and the various options on Wellington’s table need to be explored. But the village has a habit of over-studying important issues and dragging its feet until nothing gets done. It can’t afford to make that mistake again.
No matter what Wellington decides, it should make Sunrise’s request a top consideration. Its neglected seniors deserve at least that much.
BOTTOM LINE: Study the options, but make seniors a priority this time.
