A building that was used to educate Staunton's teenagers is expected to house seniors by next year.

Years of work have gone into what will soon be known as Gypsy Hill Place. Staunton Vice Mayor David Metz has been involved since the beginning.

Metz says, "It's exciting to me from a personal standpoint to see a building that's 100,000 square feet come back and be productively used."

The old Robert E. Lee High School is facing a top to bottom renovation that will change it into a combination of senior apartments, ShenanArts and the Staunton Senior Center.

Metz says, "It provides a good place for people to live. It makes sense for the developers, it makes sense for the people who ultimately will be there and it makes sense for the city."

Lynn DiBiase from the senior center has anxiously been waiting for construction to begin.

She says, "We have finally seen the beginnings of what's going to be a great project."

When the project is complete, seniors will have a larger area for day-to-day activities such as fitness programs, outings and games.

DiBiase adds, "When you walk in the door, it's a place that you really want to be, and that's what we're looking forward to offering to the seniors here in Staunton."

She says seniors are currently restricted in their location in the back of Third Presbyterian Church. The move also means they'll be able to reach out to more seniors in the Valley.

"We want to reach all of our seniors who are over 60," says DiBiase.

Seniors hoping to live in the new complex can expect to pay about $1,200 a month. The renovation is expected to be done by next summer.