After nearly 40 years at the house on 10 Daggett street, The Anchors has aged out of its location.

Also known as the Edgartown Council on Aging, The Anchors is a year-round center run by the town providing programs, events and activities to community members aged 55 and up. A five-year planning committee led by Marvene O’Rourke found that the century-old building has outgrown its use, citing accessibility concerns and maintenance costs.

In a recent presentation to the select board, Ms. O’Rourke said the current facilities in the heart of downtown Edgartown are unequipped to serve the town’s rapidly growing elder community, which has increased 28 per cent in the last 10 years.

Lunchtime at the Anchors. — Ray Ewing

According to the 2020 census, the median age in Edgartown is 60.8.

“Moving to a new location is the most viable option,” Ms. O’Rourke said.

Committee member Lyndsay Famariss said the current location also poses a series of accessibility challenges for visitors. Driving and parking on Dock street, for one, could be treacherous, she said, and many visitors could not make it up the stairs to the second floor of the building.

“The challenges seem to be outweighing what we can offer,” Ms. Famariss said.

In an email to the Gazette, Ms. O’Rourke said that the current parking lot only holds 11 spaces, five of which are used by staff, and there is no public transportation service to the immediate area.

“Environmental concerns have increased and will continue to do so,” she added. “Dock street frequently floods, making it impossible for staff or seniors to get to the building.”

Town administrator James Hagerty said the town is pursuing an agreement to form a town-owned parking lot in the place of a lot currently owned by the Kelley House and will explore possible new locations for The Anchors once the council on aging has provided additional specifications. In the meantime, the council is also pursuing a warrant article for this year’s town meeting to repair the building’s roof and windows.

The Council on Aging plans to hold a series of focus groups to determine the needs for a future location, the timeline and makeup of which are yet undecided, Ms. O’Rourke said.

In November, Howes House, an senior center located in West Tisbury, underwent a similar process to shape their upcoming renovations.

Select board members were sympathetic to the committee’s concerns, but cognizant of the challenges that finding a new location would pose for the town.

“This is just the beginning,” select board chair Margaret Serpa said.