The city’s first new senior center in nearly 40 years has opened in Jersey City’s northernmost neighborhood. The former parks office was remodeled to meet the community’s modern needs.
Mayor Steven M. Fulop recently joined several City Council members and the local community in opening the new Joseph Connors Senior Center. The building, located at 394 Central Avenue, will serve as a new lunch location for seniors and a central point of contact for health and social services.
The city’s immigration, senior citizen and veterans affairs offices will be housed under one roof at the facility, as well as a food distribution center and a vertical farm on the ground floor.
“We wanted to create a welcoming and vibrant place with even more senior programs and expanded services in one location,” said Mayor Fulop. “What we are opening here today is just that and more. With this building, we now have a centralized human services hub for senior-specific services in a public atmosphere that is accessible and welcoming.”
In the new center, a commercial kitchen was built opposite the main dining room and redesigned with an open, accessible layout. Multi-purpose rooms and a playroom were also renovated as part of the project.
Joan Eccleston, director of Jersey City’s Department of Senior Affairs, noted that the community center will offer new classes, organized activities, exercise classes and computer training in its new computer lab. The center will partner with the Jersey City Free Public Library on programming.
“This project is another milestone in our ongoing efforts to create more convenient one-stop shops throughout the city,” added Business Administrator John Metro. “This would not have been possible without our nonprofit and commercial partners who helped make the city’s vision a reality.”
The new senior center also served as a historic preservation project, as all of the property’s existing architectural details were preserved. The building on the site dates back to 1880, and much of the tin ceiling and wall tiles were incorporated into the renovation.
“This is a big day for District D,” concluded District Councilor Yousef Saleh. “I see this as the Ritz Carlton of senior centers. It’s so beautiful and it’s something our seniors deserve. A big thank you to Mayor Fulop for making this possible.”
