At least another year until the Red Hook Senior Center gets its new digs, by George Fiala

A busy Friday in Red Hook began with a morning meeting at the Miccio Center to discuss the progress of the new Senior Center.

The original center, on Walcott Street across from the library, was wiped out by Sandy floodwaters over two years ago. Operated by RAICES, the center offers those over 60 a place to have lunch, shoot pool, engage in learning and other activities, and get together with others in their age range.

The center has been operating out of the Miccio Center while awaiting the renovation of the building next door, which formerly housed a Head Start program. Almost $2 million was granted by council member Sara Gonzalez in May 2013 to transform the building, but until now little was known about what was happening.

The meeting was hosted by new Council Member Carlos Menchaca. In the audience were representatives of Assemblyman Ortiz and City Comptroller Scott Stringer. Much of the rest of the audience consisted of the actual seniors, who stayed afterwards for their lunch. In fact, cooking began in the kitchen behind the presenters about halfway through the program.

It was explained by Dawn Sanders, a NYCHA rebuilding contractor, that no work as of yet has been done on the vacant building. What has been completed are the plans, and some of the architects stood behind the presenters, listening quietly. Sanders went through a slide presentation explaining how the one story building was to be turned into a senior center.

The presentation was translated from English into both Spanish and Chinese, adding some time to the presentation.

The largest room will be the dining room, which the audience was told would seat 80 people comfortably. Karen Broughton, representing Felix Ortiz, was concerned that more than 80 seniors often attended the program. One of the architects pointed out that the room was actually bigger than the lunchroom at the Miccio, meaning that at least 100 could actually fit.

There will be a pantry, where food will be prepared, an exercise room, a computer room, and a billiards room. The lunchoom is also called a multipurpose room, and it was suggested that salsa lessons could be given. Menchaca said that he would take a lesson once the place was open.

The building will receive new mechanicals (plumbing, heating, etc), and cracks on the outside wall will be repaired.

Miss Sanders said that contractors would be hired during the next three to six months and (upon questioning) said she expects the center to be open a year from now.

She said that NYCHA is very eager to hire qualified locals to work on the job – meaning that they would try and get the contractors to hire qualified NYCHA residents. Positions would include not only plumbers and sheetrockers, but security and administrative help as well.

She said that anyone wishing to be considered for a job must visit NYCHA offices at 787 Atlantic Avenue to be entered into the database. A flyer gave out the phone number 347-566-9242, and also included her email: [email protected]. A company called REES is doing some hiring – their number is 718 289-8100.

Pete Morales asked about parking. Morales, who lives above the old senior center, and walks with a cane, complained of having trouble finding parking around the Miccio. He and others often park in the front, but those are not legal spots and are occasionally ticketed. Of course, parking is not part of the rebuilding plan, but Menchaca said he might contact DOT.

The large backyard, which has been the scene of barbecues and had been the Head Star playground, was brought up. As of now there are no plans for the playground, although some thought it might solve the parking problem.

Josh Levin, who is with the Comptrollers office, mentioned that the 30% local hiring rule is not often followed. Palmer said that she would do her best, and Menchaca said he would follow up on that as well.
The meeting broke up at around 11:30, and the seniors stayed for a lunch that was starting to smell pretty good.