Community Matters 2, Inc. is gearing up plans to renovate and reopen the former Catharine Street Community Center at 69 Catharine St. in the City of Poughkeepsie.
The currently vacant site will be revitalized, following a major boost from New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative — the organization received $603,000 to restore the property.
CM2 is a nonprofit youth and community service organization engaging in activities like community cleanups, enrichment programs, swim instruction and summer camps, along with programs in financial literacy, coding mentorship, culinary education and workforce readiness. It was established in 2018.
“This $603,000 DRI award is more than funding, it is a powerful step toward restoring the old Catharine Street Community Center as a place where youth, seniors, families and neighbors can thrive,” CM2 CEO L’Quette Taylor said in a statement.
City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne Flowers said in a statement she has witnessed the growth of the organization over the years, and has been “impressed with their unwavering commitment and dedication to ensure our youth have a safe space to engage in educational and employment opportunities.”
“The Catharine Street project will allow CM2 to expand their services and serve more youth in the City of Poughkeepsie,” she said.
A plan to sell the Catharine Street Community Center building was originally announced in 2018, according to Poughkeepsie Journal archives.
In 2019, the center closed, leaving the building where it had been housed since the early 1900s, according to the organization’s website. It was sold in 2020 to St. Joseph’s Treatment & Rehabilitation Center, but as of late, it has sat vacant.
Shirley Adams, longtime executive director of the former Catharine Street Center, said in a statement that CM2, working with its partners, “is poised to create a vital, vibrant community space, and it’s fitting that the former Catharine Street Center, the site of so many fond memories for community members, will once again become a hub of activity on the Northside of the city.”
Currently, CM2 operates at 50 N Hamilton St. in the City of Poughkeepsie, but the organization will be partnering with Chair Developers, the owner of the Catharine Street property, along with others, in this redevelopment.
Jay Blumenfeld, Chai Developers’ CEO, said in a statement he’s “proud” to stand next to CM2 and collaborate on this initiative, and previously had the “privilege” to work closely with the nonprofit, witnessing the dedication and leadership of Taylor and the team.
“Projects like this have the power to transform neighborhoods that have too often been overlooked, creating spaces that foster growth and strengthen the fabric of the community,” Blumenfeld said. “We are honored to play a role in helping bring this vision to life and look forward to the positive impact it will have for years to come.”
The goal is for the Catharine Street site to become a CM2 safe and structured space for thousands of local children annually.
CM2 will also pursue partnerships or provide services for academic support, child care, enrichment programs, health education and workforce development.
In the meantime, an advisory council will be created to assist with plans for the renovation and a capital campaign.
“For eight years, Community Matters 2, Inc. has been rooted in the belief that when we invest in people, we invest in the future of our entire community… This project represents growth, opportunity, and hope for Poughkeepsie, and we are committed to creating lasting social and economic impact that uplifts our community for generations to come,” Taylor said.
Nickie Hayes is the Breaking & Trending News Reporter for the Poughkeepsie Journal and focuses on how to make the most of what the mid-Hudson Valley has to offer. See her most recent articles here. Contact reporter Nickie Hayes: NHayes@poughkee.gannett.com, 845-863-3518 and @nickieehayess on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Poughkeepsie’s Catharine Street Community Center to reopen following grant
Reporting by Nickie Hayes, Poughkeepsie Journal / Poughkeepsie Journal
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By Nickie Hayes, Poughkeepsie Journal | USA TODAY Network
