THE STORY OF THE PRICE CENTER

ABOUT US

The Greater San Marcos Area Seniors Association, Inc., (501-c-3) corporate manager of the H. Y. Price, Jr. Seniors Center (generally known as “The Price Center” ), serves as a facilitating agency to provide stimulating cultural, social and intellectual opportunities for proposed inter-generational encounters, where the life experiences of our senior generation may be shared with the aspirations of those on their own life-journey.

Since the early 2000s, the Greater San Marcos Area Seniors Association, has realized its mission by operating the non-profit, low cost/no cost, Center as a gathering place for celebrations, performances, presentations, artistic displays, weddings and various other private, professional, personal and community events.

In addition to serving as a venue for others to host events and activities, the Center offers a variety of programs and activities focused on healthy, active living.

A variety of ongoing healthy and engaging classes and gatherings bring young, old and in-betweeners together throughout the Center each week.

Light physical activities like Community Dance, Pilates, Tai Chi and Yoga classes are available daily.

Opportunities to express oneself creatively abound through monthly porcelain painting, quilting and one-off art workshops. Rotating art shows displayed daily in free, public galleries provide cultural enrichment and entertainment.

One-off musical performances, seasonal theatrical productions and movie showings offer more chances to enjoy the arts while meeting friends and neighbors.

Two heritage pecan trees anchor the Center’s large front garden, which features a nearly ever-blooming display of native and hybrid specimens and draws thousands of visitors each year in the form of regular sightseers, passing and nesting birds, butterflies and bumblebees as well as the students of Texas State University’s horticulture class for one of their annual exams.

In addition to its own programming and activities, each Price Center venue is available for rental by the hour, day, etc. From the historic 1910 former sanctuary to the Garden Room, Multi-Purpose Room, Small Parlor and Garden, the size, character and variety of the venues offer you endless ways to realize your vision for your event.

Whether you’re new to town, just passing through, or a long-term resident, the Price Center is your downtown home for healthy, active living.

Intergenerational theatre experiences open creative opportunities for elders, middlers and kids to work and create together, learning from each other — a mission of the Price Center.

BACKGROUND

On November 11, 2004, at the annual meeting of the Texas Downtown Association at the Hilton Hotel in College Station, Texas, the H.Y. Price, Jr., Seniors Center, San Marcos, Texas, received recognition as the most outstanding “adaptive reuse” property in the state of Texas. This was a high point in the five year rehabilitation program of the Price Seniors Center being carried out by the Greater San Marcos Area Seniors Association, Inc. The Association operates the Price Seniors Center (the former First Christian Church of San Marcos) under the terms of a thirty-year lease (renewable) with the City of San Marcos, record owner of the property. To date, over $400,000 in rehab expenses have been achieved by the Association.

The building complex was donated to the city of San Marcos by philanthropist H.Y. Price, Jr., by deed dated May 23, 1994, for use as “youth and/or senior citizen activity programs.” The City Council began periodic deliberations with the newly incorporated Greater San Marcos Are Seniors Association, Inc., with a final lease being signed on December 31, 1998, with the Association assuming all renovation responsibilities.

GOALS

In general, the Association’s mission idea was to emphasize intergenerational activities rather than to create an enclave for traditionally narrowly defined senior citizen programs. The larger community was to benefit from the seniors’ plan.

We envisioned an expansive and expressive outreach with the goal of being a vital part of our broader community, contributing to uplifting inter-generational opportunities for all as we facilitate the visions, hopes, needs and creative proposals offered to the Price Center by any and all for the benefit of any and all.

Since the early 2000's the Price Center has served the greater San Marcos Community with healthy, engaging, and enriching activities and events while also serving as an affordable, accessible and flexible space to host private and public gatherings of all types.