Jersey City’s northernmost neighborhood is now home to the city’s first new senior community center to open in almost 40 years as a former parking authority office has been transformed to meet the community’s modern needs.
Mayor Steven M. Fulop recently joined several City Council members and the local community to cut the ribbon at the new Joseph Connors Senior Center. Situated at 394 Central Avenue, the space will act as a new senior lunch site and also serve as a one-stop hub for Health and Human Services.
The city’s offices of Immigrant Affairs, Senior Affairs, and Veteran Affairs will be located at the facility under one roof, as will a food pantry and vertical farm on the first floor.
“We wanted to create an inviting and vibrant place with even more senior programs to offer and expanded services all in one place,” said Mayor Fulop. “What we are opening here today is exactly that and more. With this building, we now have a one-stop Human Services Hub for senior-specific services in a public-facing atmosphere that is accessible and welcoming.”
A commercial kitchen was built in the new center across from the large dining room, which has been transformed via an open, accessible layout. The undertaking also saw renovations to multipurpose space plus a game room.
Joan Eccleston, Jersey City’s Director of the Division of Seniors Affairs, noted that the community center will offer new classes, organized activities, exercise classes, and computer literacy training in their new computer lab. The center will be working in partnership with the Jersey City Free Public Library on their programming.
“This project marks another milestone in our continued effort to establish more convenient one-stop shops throughout the city,” added Business Administrator John Metro. “This would not have been possible without our nonprofit and trade partners, who helped turn the city’s vision into reality.”
The new senior center also doubled as a preservation project, as it maintained all the existing architectural details of the property. The building on the site dates to 1880 and much of the tin ceiling and wall tiles were integrated into the renovation.
“This is a big day for Ward D,” concluded Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh. “I see this as the Ritz Carlton of senior centers. It is so beautiful, and it is something that our seniors deserve. A huge thank you to Mayor Fulop for making this happen.”
