Salvation Army hopes to build new complex on Slocum Avenue

LANCASTER – The local Salvation Army chapter has been at 228 W. Hubert St. since 1976. But Capt. Bryan Demichael hopes that changes in the coming years.

The chapter plans to start a financial campaign this summer to open a new building on Slocum Avenue in 2025. It is estimated to cost around $5.5 million to $6 million. The state has already pledged $200,000 and Demichael on Tuesday asked the Fairfield County commissioners for financial help.

But the chapter must raise the rest on its own, as the main Salvation Army organization does not provide financial help.

“We’ve had problems with our existing building for a long time,” Demichael said. “We’re out of space and just doesn’t really meet the needs of what we’re doing here in the county right now, let alone even in the future.”

He said the chapter has been looking for a new location since 2016 to give it more room and allow it to continue serving people. Demichael said the chapter would have probably started its capital campaign in 2020 had not COVID-19 hit and now be under construction.

The rough design now calls for about a 20,000 square-foot building, which will be an increase from the current building by about 8,000 square feet. One of the focal points will be expanding the adult day services program. The state mandates a limit of 30 clients in the building now, but Demichael said the number of clients exceeded that before the pandemic.

He said it’s important to expand the adult program because the average age of Fairfield County residents is rising.

“It’s estimated that 19% of all folks in Fairfield County will be age 65 or older come 2030,” Demichael said. “So we know that is a program we need to continue to invest in and continue to expand.”

A new building would also mean a larger food pantry than the current one which is 10 by 15 feet. The new one is expected to be 400% larger.

The new building will also have a teen center with a full gymnasium.

“We know that there is a huge need for teen programming, especially junior high and high school-aged programming here in Lancaster,” Demichael said. “There’s really no place for kids that are in grades six to 12 to go.”

He said the local chapter has served about 132,000 people in the past 10 years. Demichael said that number is expected to double in the new place.

He said the plan is for construction to start in late 2023 or sometime in 2024.

jbarron@gannett.com