UTICA - The East Side Senior Day Center is closing its doors, and what's going to happen to it next is anyone's guess.

What we know so far is this - the senior center will be closing its doors as of August 31st, when the Mohawk Valley Community Action agency, ends their programs at the center.

The reason?

The Community Action Agency and the City of Utica both say it's because of numbers that they haven't seen grow in the past 3 - 4 years.

The City of Utica first said it was a decision made by the Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, but the Agency says that the decision was made in conjunction with the City of Utica, who the Agency says have been following the center's lack of number growth right along. A callback to the City then had them in agreement, saying that yes, the decision was mutual.

The City of Utica says that a recent quarterly report showed 400 seniors using the center, which is housed in a building on Catherine Street, in a building which is owned by the city itself.

But according to the Agency, they say "It just doesn't seem that there's a need for it in that particular area."

Now when the Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency moves their senior center programs out of the building, they say they are also moving other programs and offices out of the building as well.

When asked why the other programs and offices would be moved out of the building when it was only the senior center programs that were having problems with numbers, the Agency said the reason was cost efficiency - saying it made more sense to have their staff where their other programs are going to be located.

We're told that on July 25th, all the other senior centers will meet to discuss how those senior centers can accommodate the east side member's needs.

And after August 31st when the doors close, transportation will be made to other senior centers for those members, as they decide which center would fit them best.

The city says letters will go out to all members that they have these options.

What's going to happen to the property once everything ups and moves out?

As we said the city owns the building, and the Community Action Agency that's moving out says they have no idea what the city has in store.

When we spoke with the City of Utica, we asked if they were intending on putting the building up for market, or had any development plans and the city insists, "no," they don't, and that they won't start thinking about it until after August 31st.