NORFOLK, Va. - The Brambleton Community Outreach Center told members it will be closing its doors in two weeks. Many community members are upset about the closing, but a senior dance group said they are now homeless.
Seniors in Motion is a group of more than 200 seniors who meet twice a week for two to three hours. They have been using the Brambleton Center for six years.
"Two weeks ago we were notified they would be closing and we would no longer be able to meet there. So we were devastated," said Vivian Walston, the social director for the group.
Vice Mayor Angelia Graves said in Tuesday's City Council meeting Norfolk State University, which owns the building, made the decision to close the building on their own. Therefore the city is as blindsided by the closing as the community.
The dance instructor for Seniors in Motion Patricia Patinter said, "We have such a large group, they were just about the building that could accommodate us. I'm just so devastated because we don't have a home."
"We're so afraid that the group will disband if we don't have a place to meet," said Walston.
Upon hearing Seniors in Motion didn't have a home, city council took action and is working to find the group a new place to meet and have their dance classes.
News 3 reached out to Norfolk State University to find out why the center is closing, but did not receive a response by deadline. Vice Mayor Graves said there are plans to sell the building.
