WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — The fight to keep a local senior center open continues, as state Sen. Adriano Espaillat launched a petition asking the community for help.
The ARC XVI Senior Center on 4111 Broadway was notified in April that the landlord, Christ Church United Methodist Center, would not be renewing the lease agreement, which expires at the end of the year, according to executive director, Fern Hertzberg.
The center, founded more than 40 years ago and known as a “second home” to thousands of seniors ranging from 65 to 104-years-old, conducts activities throughout the day, including ESL classes, dancing, health and wellness, arts and culture.
"Hundreds of seniors from as far down as 110th Street and as far up as 220th Street, river to river, rely on ARC Ft. Washington every day for a hot meal, fun activities and essential services. We will not leave them without a place to go," Espaillat said at the rally, held last week. "We will fight to keep this four-decade old institution right here in Washington Heights, and when this community comes together there is nothing we cannot achieve."
The landlord said in a statement to DNAinfo that “due to deteriorating physical condition of our building, we are in the process of evaluating how to address its significant and extensive deferred maintenance needs.”
“During this time, we will continue to use only a small portion of the building for our ongoing worship services and Christ Church WH community program for new mothers. As a result, we regret that we are unable to renew long-term leases for ARC XVI and UAPA."
Espaillat said he will present the signed petitions to the landlord.