Church Opens New Senior Center In Harlem

HARLEM, NY — A Harlem church's senior center has found a new home nearly three years after being forced to close its doors.

The Canaan Baptist Church of Christ opened its new senior center Thursday in a development on Fifth Avenue and 117th Street with the help of development firm L+M Development, according to a press release. The developer offered the church the space after hearing it lost its Lenox Avene home in September 2016.

"When we heard about the senior center’s search for a new home, we immediately thought about how we could be helpful," Ron Moelis, CEO and founder of L+M Development Partners, said in a statement. "This is an excellent example of how public, private and non-profit sectors can work together to support the larger community."

L+M Developed the building at 1428 Fifth Avenue, which offers all of its units at below-market prices for Section 8 recipients.

The Canaan Baptist Church of Christ senior center was founded in 1972 by former pastor Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker and offers services such as: Case management assistance, escort and transportation services, shopping assistance, educational programs and recreational activities.

"The opening of the new Canaan Senior Service Center is a classic example of how the faith community and the private sector can collaborate to improve the quality of living in our community," Rev. Dr. Thomas Johnson, pastor at the Canaan Baptist Church of Christ, said in a statement.

A ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday was attended by representatives from L+M, the church and local elected officials.