U.S. Rep. Grace Meng and Council Member Sandra Ung have condemned NYCHA for allegedly failing to repair several leaks in the roof at the NYCHA-operated Latimer Gardens Older Adult Center, causing the facility to temporarily close down.
The center, which is part of NYCHA’s Latimer Gardens complex in Flushing, was ordered to temporarily close by the New York City Department for the Aging on May 18 out of safety concerns. Meng and Ung said the closure would impact around 700 local seniors who rely on the center, including those who enjoy daily activities or receive services and free lunches.
Both lawmakers visited the facility on Monday, with Meng describing the conditions as “unacceptable.” NYCHA has stated that it had no options but to close the center and completely replace the roof.
But Meng has called on NYCHA to “expeditiously” complete the necessary repairs in order to reopen the facility, which she described as a “safe and functional space for Queens seniors.”
“Local seniors in and around Latimer Gardens rely on this facility for activities and services that enable them to stay active and receive the support they need,” Meng said in a statement. “This includes access to meals, socialization, case and benefit assistance and more.”
Meng said some seniors have been relocated to other older adult centers but said the majority remained impacted by the closure.
Ung, on the other hand, said her office has been “inundated” with calls since the closure of the Latimer Gardens center, primarily from older adults who “suddenly lost access” to essential programs, services and social connections “they depend on every day.” The closure has also impacted local youth, Ung added.
“At the same time, the summer youth program that serves local families has been left searching for alternative space, creating uncertainty for children and parents alike,” Ung said in a statement. “We need swift action. I urge NYCHA to expedite the repair process so these critical community spaces are back up and running as quickly as possible.”
A NYCHA spokesperson said the agency has been regularly performing short-term repairs to address persistent leaks impacting the center but added that the “only viable path forward” is to fully replace the roof.
“Until funding is fully secured and the project can be completed, programming is being relocated and will proceed without interruption, a NYCHA spokesperson said in a statement. “NYCHA continues its close partnership and coordination with the center’s service providers to ensure NYCHA residents and community members have continued access to programming, meals, and social interaction.
The spokesperson added that NYCHA would work with both Ung and Meng’s offices once details around federal funding have been finalized.
Meng has secured $800,000 in federal funding that is currently being finalized to help renovate and repair the leaking roof.
Meng said she observed water leaking from the ceiling of the building’s gym and the damage it had caused to the floor when she toured the facility last year. In another room, she observed multiple buckets placed capturing water leaking from the ceiling.
The Latimer Gardens Older Adult Center opened in 1973 and has been providing services and resources to seniors aged 60 and over ever since. Popular classes at the facility include ballroom dancing, calligraphy, nutrition education, health and physical wellness, technology, English as a second language, gardening and arts and culture.