This morning, city officials broke ground on a new facility that will benefit senior citizens in central North Philadelphia.

The facility, to be called the Martin Luther King Older Adult Center, will be located at the corner of 21st Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue, just across the street from the current MLK Recreation Center.

The new 10,000 square foot building will house a new lunchroom and kitchen as well as multipurpose room for residents to use for arts, fitness and computer access. The facility will use sustainable practices and materials. Construction is scheduled to begin in about two weeks.

Thrilled to break ground on new MLK Older Adult Center - our seniors are worth it! pic.twitter.com/P3z0c1fLGI

— Darrell Clarke (@Darrell_Clarke) June 14, 2016

The total cost for the project will be around $4.3 million. According the Department of Parks and Recreation, City Council President Darrell Clarke is contributing more than half of the project’s funding, projected to be $2.8 million. Clarke represents the 5th District which contains that section of North Philadelphia. The rest of the money will be contributed by the City, the Department and Project HOME.

 

#Repost @jen.crandall (via @repostapp) ・・・ Groundbreaking for the new MLK Older Adult Center! @philaparkandrec @mlkreccenter @darrell_clarke

A photo posted by Philadelphia Parks & Rec (@philaparkandrec) on

Jun 14, 2016 at 12:24pm PDT

“This day belongs to the MLK Older Adult Center community, which pushed the City of Philadelphia for a new facility because they are frankly deserving of one,” said Council President Clarke.  “The fight to secure funding for this was long and difficult, but thanks to committed partners in the Administration and Project HOME, we are one step closer to a beautiful, welcoming and engaging space for our seniors. Congratulations to the seniors who never gave up and never questioned their worth. You deserve this and more from our City.”  

The City’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy and Department of Public Property  put out a call to local artists through their Philadelphia Percent for Art Program to seek a public art commission. The artist would create indoor site-specific artwork for the center.