Project Evolution

Since the mid 2000's, the City of Portsmouth's Senior Subcommittee has done an excellent job moving through the process of identifying the best place for a senior center in a timely and effective manner.  That work resulted in the establishment of a Senior Center at the Community Campus.  The acquisition of the Doble property at Cottage Street (Fall 2018) represents the next chapter in the City's evolving and expanding programming for older adults.

In 2012, the Paul A. Doble Army Reserve Center on Cottage Street was identified as the Committee's first option to house a new senior center. It is a one-story building that includes a commercial-grade kitchen, individual classrooms and an assembly hall. The building is close to the city center, adjacent to the West End, and can be serviced effectively through public transportation on an existing route. The location also has adequate on-site parking.

The Vision is to be Portsmouth’s premiere community resource for mature adults. That involvement of adults in the community and senior center will inspire the community to understand the power of healthy aging to positively transform lives.  

Working together with the Community Development and Public Works Departments, the Senior Services Division of the Recreation Department is planning an adaptive reuse of the Doble facility to accommodate existing Senior Activity Center Program. The new facility will provide more than double the amount of space available to the Senior Center in its current location and will incorporate some Council on Aging-recommended design features. Design work is being undertaken by the firm of AECm Architects and Engineers in Newmarket, NH and Manypenny Murphy Architecture in Portsmouth, NH.

Funding for this project will come from a combination of sources, including U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program funds and the Daniel Street Trust.