United Senior Center of Sunset Park says it may have to close due to rent increase
The center's executive director, Grisel Amador, says the place provides services that people in the area rely on, including bilingual case workers, a kitchen serving breakfast and lunch and activities, like live music.
More Stories
The United Senior Center of Sunset Park says it may have to shut down because of a proposed 70% rent increase after 50 years servicing the community.
The center's executive director, Grisel Amador, says the place provides services that people in the area rely on, including bilingual case workers, a kitchen serving breakfast and lunch and activities, like live music.
"This is a house for everyone, this is a place where you feel comfortable," said Hector Gonzalez, one of the center's regulars.
However, Amador says the increase is more than the New York City Department for the Aging, which funds the center, can afford, telling News 12 they agreed to pay a little bit more, but nowhere near that much.
The Department for the Aging says that while it will give advice, things like budget and rent negotiations are the responsibility of the Center - where administrators say if the number stays the same, they will have to move out when their lease expires at the end of June.
"That's insane," said Gonzalez. "Without this place, the people have no place to go."
Another regular, Robert Cruz says he is not sure what he would do without it, since the Center "is the only thing that happens for seniors in Sunset Park. There is no other facility. we need compassion"
While they say they have tried to find somewhere else to move into, Amador says they keep running into the same problem. Every other space in Sunset Park big enough to house them still costs more than they can afford.
So for now, they say their only option is to fight to stay, holding a rally with regulars, local politicians and religious leaders.
"I'm a war veteran, and this is not just a one-day thing," said Gonzalez. "This is a war, and it has to be win to all extremes."
The landlord for the building tells News 12 that the current rent is way below market value and the offered increase is still less than what most tenants in the area pay, but they were willing the make that compromise because they would like the center to stay.
Meanwhile the Department for the Aging says if the center does have to close, it will do everything it can to make sure seniors in the area still have access to the same services.
