Bay Ridge adult center to open officially this month

BAY RIDGE – Good things come to those who wait.

After months of patiently waiting, the new and improved Bay Ridge Center (BRC) for older adults is finally ready to open its doors and unveil itself to the public this month.

And in a Brooklyn Eagle exclusive, this paper took a tour of the facility and spoke with its executive director regarding the state-of-the-art space.  

Located at 15 Bay Ridge Ave., the new, 21,000-square-foot community center will offer a wide range of innovative free services that address older adults’ biological, psychological, social, and cultural needs.

The location will feature — among other things — specially-designed activity rooms, including a strength training gym, with equipment from Germany and software from Singapore; a technology learning lab, equipped with computers and tablets; an art room for classes and art therapy; a music appreciation studio; and a health and wellness room, which will feature members of Maimonides Medical Center coming and working with older adults on their specific needs. 

Members will also receive hot meals in the center’s expansive dining room/café.

According to Todd W. Fliedner, BRC’s executive director, the goal behind the center was to create anything but something typical.

“We wanted a space where we could do programming for all age ranges,” Fliedner said. “We have members aged 60 to 102 – a 40 plus span. And what a 60-year-old likes to do is not necessarily what an 80-year-old likes to do; one size does not fit all.”

Fliedner noted that it is equally important to work not only with the body, but with the mind as well. “It’s a wholistic approach,” he said, “and we’re hoping this center will bring older adults to the next level.

“We live in a very culturally diverse community as well, and we want programming specific to certain cultural groups. Also, our older adult population is growing here — and this is such a great spot — it’s right by the water, the pier, the ferry, Narrows Botanical [Gardens], Owl’s Head Park — we are very satisfied.”

For decades, the BRC has operated out of the 4,700-square-foot basement of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, offering hot meals, vital community education and engagement programs, and social services that help older adults meet their basic needs.

“We outgrew our space there years ago,” Fliedner said, adding that this new building allows us to better serve several Brooklyn neighborhoods such as Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton and Sunset Park, with a large and growing older adult population.

Incidentally, five shuttle buses will be offered to and from the facility as well.

“We’ve identified some key pick up and drop off points in the neighborhood – in Bay Ridge and a bit into Sunset Park,” Fliedner noted.

“This is the kind of place that someone can come to at 8:30 in the morning when we open, and stay the whole day until we close at 4:30 p.m. They can do their workout, have lunch, attend an art class, have computer training and play music. A lot of older adults live in cramped apartments — who wouldn’t want to be here instead of there?”

Asked why he embarked on such a Herculean venture, Fliedner, 66, who lives in the neighborhood and is also a BRC member, said that when he goes to bed at night he wants to know that he’s made a difference, and had an impact on his neighborhood.

‘It’s not about the money. Really, the only way to be part of a community is to give back to it,” he said.  

However, Fliedner was quick to point out that this is not an accomplishment that he has achieved solely on his own — giving a significant nod to his team at BRC. 

With regard to cost, the BRC team set out with a fundraising goal of $5 million, and with the help of federal, state, and private donors, they secured roughly $4 million.

Funding included a state and municipal award of $250,000, coordinated by former State Sen. Marty Golden, and facilitated by State Sen. Andrew Gounardes; and a total of $500,000 from development organizations.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-11) secured $2 million in Housing and Urban Development funding for the new center.

Other subsidiary finances included a capital funding allocation from Councilmember Justin Brannan.

“I honestly feel we have the nicest older adults center in all the five boroughs, Fliedner said. “I think we are a model not only for New York City, but for New York State, and for the country.

“This is what every older adult should have access to. Nobody wants to go to a nursing home. We want to stay where we have lived our entire lives, and be as independent as possible as long as we possibly can.”