BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — A project years in the making will soon transform a site in East Bakersfield into a new affordable housing community and senior center. The $27 million project is a partnership between the Housing Authority of the County of Kern and the Bakersfield Senior Center. The development will turn an empty lot into the new Bakersfield Senior Center Affordable Housing & Facility, bringing 36 affordable apartment homes for seniors, along with a community-centered facility designed to support healthy and independent living through wellness programs, educational opportunities, nutritious meals, supportive services, and spaces for social connection. The project began with an idea from lifetime Bakersfield resident Lilli Parker, executive director of the Bakersfield Senior Center, who believed there weren't enough resources in the East Bakersfield area for the elderly community. The groundbreaking ceremony drew a packed crowd, including longtime East Bakersfield residents who say the community has waited years for this kind of investment and revitalization.