Alright, so check it out, right? Community advocates were all up in arms at the United Senior Center of Sunset Park on May 9. They were rallying and stuff, trying to get the landlord to stop this proposed rent hike that could straight-up force the center to shut down. Like, no joke, man. The whole shebang was documented by Gabriele Holtermann, so you know it’s legit.
So, after holding it down for a solid 51 years, the United Senior Center of Sunset Park (USC) is now facing the possibility of closing its doors by the end of June. Why, you ask? Well, it’s all because the landlord, Amy Grabino, is thinking about jacking up the rent by over 70%. That’s a hefty increase, no doubt.
At the rally on May 9, you had local elected officials, seniors, and community organizers all coming together at the center, basically telling Grabino to chill out with this crazy rent hike. They were asking her to come correct and make a fair offer, ya know?
Word on the street is that USC’s landlord wants to bump up the rent by more than 70% — that’s a whopping $86,800 for the first three years of a proposed 10-year lease. And it doesn’t stop there. After that, there’s gonna be an additional 7.6% increase of $16,800 over the next three years, followed by another 8.4% hike of $18,200 over the final four years. All in all, we’re talking about an increase of over 86%, which amounts to $121,800.
Now, the New York City Department for the Aging, which is the main source of funding for the center, tried to throw in a 5% increase to help keep things afloat. But, yo, Grabino straight-up shut that down. The current lease is set to expire soon, and they even tried to negotiate a temporary extension, but no dice.
Council Member Alexa Avilés, repping Sunset Park, came through with a fat stack of petitions signed by over 500 community members and 20 local organizations. She’s really pushing for the center to stay open, and those petitions are going straight to the landlord. Avilés ain’t playing around, man. She’s fighting tooth and nail for the survival of the center.
Describing the center as the “heart of Sunset Park,” Avilés is telling Grabino to come back to the negotiating table with a real offer. She ain’t having none of this crazy rent increase nonsense. It’s like she’s saying, “You better come correct, or else.”
And then you got Council Speaker and mayoral candidate Adrienne Adams, who’s all about the center being a “home away from home.” She’s saying these places do way more than just provide programs and food. They bring the community together, man. It’s about physical and mental health, connecting with others, and thriving together in a diverse setting.
Adams is calling out that 70% increase and the subsequent bumps in the 10-year lease as straight-up unacceptable. She’s standing with the community, telling Grabino to stop playing games and negotiate in good faith. They’re trying to avoid kicking out the seniors who rely on this place.
Council Member Justin Brannan, who’s also running for NYC comptroller, gets it. He knows landlords wanna make that money, but he’s asking Grabino to come through with an offer that everyone can rock with. It’s all about putting people first, not just chasing that paper.
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is even trying to help out by asking for a two-year grace period to find a new spot for the center. They got shut down, but they ain’t giving up. They’re saying, “There’s always a way,” and they’re gonna keep fighting for the seniors.
The United Senior Center is a big deal in Sunset Park, serving over 4,000 adults every month with all kinds of programs and services. It’s not just a place to hang out — it’s a lifeline for these seniors. Closing it down could lead to more isolation, health issues, and a whole lot of stress.
Hector Gonzalez, a Sunset Park resident, put it best when he said the center is like a second home to these seniors. It’s where they come to bond, eat, play, and just be themselves. It’s a safe space where they can forget about their problems and enjoy life.
The bottom line is this: the United Senior Center of Sunset Park needs to stay open. The community is rallying together to fight this rent hike and make sure these seniors have a place to call their own. Let’s hope Grabino listens and does the right thing before it’s too late.
