Butler Senior Center is prepared for, but not expecting, immediate change in Tanglewood venue
Though the Tanglewood Center expressed interest in selling last week, the Butler Senior Center’s operations do not expect to be impacted as of Monday, March 24.
The center, located at 10 Austin Ave., Butler Township, serves as an event hall and doubles as a senior center three times a week from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Beth Herold, director of the Butler County Area Agency on Aging, said Tanglewood manager Charlie Roche first expressed the interest in a sale or lease to her several months ago.
“Charlie knew several months ago they were considering plans, such as selling or leasing space, but didn’t expect it to affect the space we use,” she said.
Since then, Herold said they communicate periodically to ensure nothing has changed.
“Charlie and I check in about once a month to make sure everything’s still good on both sides,” she said. “We make sure the space is still available and he makes sure we still want to use it.”
According to her, the contract between the Tanglewood Center and the Area Agency on Aging requires 30-days notice before senior center operations would end. She has received no notice and currently does not expect to receive one.
“We have not received any notice at the moment. While the contract says 30 days, Charlie would make sure to give us more time to adjust,” she said.
A new senior center at 215 N. Duffy Road, Butler Township, began development in 2023. According to Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche, the project is expected to be rebid in the near future, with hopes of construction starting this summer and finishing in spring or summer of 2026.
While the new senior center is just looking to begin construction, both Osche and Herold said they believe the Butler Senior Center will continue to operate in Tanglewood until construction completes.
“(The Tanglewood Center) just expressed an interest in selling. By the time they find someone who wants to buy and the sale goes through, we should already be out of there,” Osche said.
Even if the center can no longer host the Butler Senior Center, Herold said the Area Agency on Aging has a backup plan.
“If something changes on their end, we have some plans for where we could go. We would have to discuss a plan with the commissioners before doing anything,” she said.
