Immigrant Organization to Open Community Center in North Corona

104-14 Roosevelt Ave. (Google Maps)

April 12, 2018 By Tara Law

Immigrant advocacy and social service provider Make the Road New York plans to break ground on a new 3-story community center in North Corona later this year.

Make the Road New York, which promotes civic engagement and provides immigrants with educational, health and legal services, is looking to open the new center at 104-19 Roosevelt Ave. in 2020 according to Javier H. Valdés, the organization’s co-executive director.

The site, which is currently a vacant lot, is 0.7 miles from the organization’s current Queens headquarters, located at 92-10 Roosevelt Avenue.

The new community center will serve as the organization’s new “hub” in Queens, said Valdés, where community members can access services such as a food pantry, adult literacy classes, civic engagement programs and arts programs. The organization serves 16,000 people in the borough annually, said Valdés.

“At a moment when our community is facing the most anti-immigrant administration in contemporary U.S. history, Make the Road New York is proud to be building a new home in Queens, the immigrant capital of New York,” Valdés said. “Our new community center will be a place of dignity, strength and safety for all.”

Make the Road submitted a proposal for the construction of the community center to the Department of Buildings on April 3. According to the proposal, which is currently pending zoning approval, the center would be 40 feet tall and would occupy18,050 square feet of space.

The project plans, which were created by New York City and Mexico City-based firm TEM Arquietectos, include a kitchen and pantry on the cellar level alongside an art room, a classroom and a storage area.

The main reception area and entry vestibule will be located on the first floor along with an auditorium, a gallery, a meeting space, offices and three classrooms.

The rest of the building will include a terrace, dining space, conference rooms, and more offices.

The location is a block away from 103rd St.- Corona Plaza (7).