Dear Friends and Neighbors,
ARC XVI Fort Washington senior center has been in our community for over four decades. For 15 years, it has called the church on 174
th Street and Broadway home. It serves our precious aging communities with free meals, programming in English and Spanish, transportation, care and more. ARC XVI Ft. Washington has worked over time to become one of the most quality senior centers in all of northern Manhattan,
and if we don't take action soon, it could be forced out by the end of the year.
The new landlord of the church that houses ARC XVI Fort Washington, Christ Church United Methodist, has refused to renew the senior center's lease. In 2002, the city and state made a close to $2 million capital investment in the church for the purpose of the senior center to provide a safe space for hundreds of seniors in the community. However,
the new landlords have given scant reasoning for their decision to push them out and seem entirely willing to tell our seniors that they must find a new place for the services they have come to rely upon.
This is why I am joining State Senator Adriano Espaillat tomorrow at 12:30 PM outside the senior center to show how much this valued service provider means to our community. I hope you will join me in an outpouring of support as we urge their new landlords to keep ARC XVI in the home it has known for years, so that our seniors can continue to live through their golden years in peace and comfort, knowing they have a home and a caring community in Washington Heights.
We'll be gathering at 174th Street between Broadway and Fort Washington at 12:15 and will kick off our rally at 12:30pm, standing up for our many seniors who have given so much to our community throughout their lives.
I hope you can join us in support.
Thank you,
Ydanis Rodriguez
Council Member,
Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill
