[Above: The Center leadership with representatives from WA Development sign the contract for a new temporary space on Kirby Drive. Left to Right: Liz Ehrhart (WA Development), David Pomerantz (CFO, The Center), David R. David (WA Development), Charles Canton (CEO, The Center), Marilu Garza (CDO, The Center), Sabrena Akenten (CHRO, The Center), Kevin Kern (COO, The Center).]
It has been nearly one year since The Center announced plans to put our West Dallas property up for sale and began the search for a new location to help us better meet the evolving needs of our clients. We are excited to have reached a tentative agreement to sell the land that houses our West Dallas campus and to be shaping a vision for a new, transformative campus that will expand the possibilities for our clients.
Development by the new property owners on the current West Dallas campus—not including Cullen Residence Hall and the surrounding one acre of land—is slated to begin in 2019. In preparation, The Center will temporarily relocate a portion of our services to ensure uninterrupted client programming during this transitional time. The Center has signed the lease for a short-term location at 9310 Kirby Drive to house all of our day programs until the new permanent location is ready. This includes our Momentum Industries vocational training program, the Adult Activity Center, Young at Heart, Bloom Fitness exercise classes, Cullen Caners, and Gingersnaps Etc. These programs are scheduled to relocate in the first quarter of 2019.
This interim location will provide large spaces and ample resources for each program. Plans for transportation and client meals will be accounted for.
During this time, residents of Cullen Residence Hall will be able to remain in their homes until new provisions are in place. Administrative employees will work from offices located in the Cullen Residence Hall, as well. Willow River Farms will be unaffected by this change and clients residing at the Farm will continue on their regular schedules.
We will announce more information regarding the sale of the West Dallas property as well as the location of our new campus in the weeks and months to come.