Ribbon Cut on $2.1 Million Renovation of Senior Center Kitchen and Youth Center Lighting and Restrooms at Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center
Upper East Side, NY – Public housing seniors and youth joined Council Member Ben Kallos and executive staff as they cut the ribbon on the $2.1 million renovation of the senior center kitchen and youth center lighting and restrooms located in the Stanley Isaacs Houses-Holmes Towers NYCHA complex at 415 E 93rd Street with funding from NYCHA and the City Council. Project construction began last year and was completed ahead of schedule.
The Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center is a nonprofit organization with more than a 50-year history of serving the needs of over 6,000 children and low-income families, out-of-school and out-of-work youth, and older adults annually. The senior center, which helps to provide food security to hundreds of seniors daily through on-site hot meals and home-delivered+ meals to the homebound and medically fragile, was operating with outdated ventilation systems for over a decade. Lack of proper ventilation within the kitchen caused issues with food storage and respiratory issues for the meal preparation staff. The renovation was critical. Additionally, the Youth Center, which provides after-school programming for children residing in the Isaacs/Holmes development and education/workforce development services to hundreds particularly vulnerable young adults, also saw its restrooms renovated and brightened.
Council Member Kallos provided $680,000 to fully fund the project in his first year in office, and an additional $350,000 in 2017 in response to higher than expected bids to see the project continue for a total investment of $1,030,000. This was coupled with approximately $1 million in previous funding from former Council Member Dan Garodnick and NYCHA.
The scope of the work included:
Senior Center – replacement of existing kitchen equipment, new kitchen floor and ceiling, and mechanical upgrades.
Youth Center – complete bathroom renovation, replacement of plumbing fixtures, new LED lighting fixtures, and new doors and frames.
“We must invest in our seniors and our youth in public housing and throughout our city. As seniors face food insecurity, they deserve a good hot meal from a kitchen equipped to serve them. New lighting will welcome youth to a bright place to learn and grow,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “Thank you to Isaacs Center’s Executive Director Greg Morris and his staff for their partnership in moving this project forward and always fighting for seniors and youth in public housing.”
“Feeding older adults and families in need, as well as providing safe and engaging places for children to learn, grow and play have been central to the mission of the Isaacs Center, since its founding. Renovations to our senior center kitchen and youth center facilities are a significant win for this community and speak to the City’s renewed focus on critical investments in public housing residents. I thank Council Member Ben Kallos and NYCHA for their commitment to the Isaacs Center and driving this project forward,” said Gregory J. Morris, President and Executive Director of the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center.”
“The investments made to the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center will benefit the community for years to come,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “Thank you to Council Member Ben Kallos, former Council Member Dan Garodnick and NYCHA for funding these improvements. New York City must invest in enhancing the lives of seniors and youth, and I’m thrilled to see that come to fruition here.”
“After serving over 6,000 children, seniors, and low-income families for over 50 years, I am thrilled that the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center received critical funding for renovations that will allow them to continue making a difference in the community. I am so proud of the collaborative effort between Council Member Ben Kallos and the executive staff that has resulted in the beautifully renovated senior center kitchen and youth center, and am grateful that this community institution will be better equipped to serve residents for many years to come, said Congress Member Carolyn M. Maloney.”
"For more than five decades the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center has provided essential services for seniors, youth, and low-income families in our community. These much-needed renovations will ensure that Stanley Isaacs can continue to successfully fulfill its mission to promote the social and physical well-being of our neighbors throughout every stage of life. I commend Council Member Ben Kallos for providing the funding to make these important projects a reality," said State Senator José M. Serrano
“The services provided by the Stanley Isaac Neighborhood Center have been improving the lives of youth, families, and older adults, including the isolated and homebound elderly, for over 50 years. I thank Councilmember Kallos, NYCHA, and the City Council for their support for this vital community institution. These upgrades will help Stanley Isaacs continue to meet the needs of the diverse community it serves,” said State Senator Liz Krueger.