Due to ongoing capital improvements at the BronxWorks Carolyn McLaughlin Community Center, the main entrance at 1130 Grand Concourse is closed. All guests, visitors and staff should use the accessible entrance located in the rear of the building through the parking lot on Carroll Place. Please exercise caution when entering and exiting the parking lot.
When the predicted heat index reaches 95°F or higher, the City of New York declares a “CODE RED”. During a Code Red, the BronxWorks Homeless Outreach Team will be working hard to help our most vulnerable neighbors get off the streets and into shelter. Designated cooling centers are open during a CODE RED. If you are living without air conditioning and need a place to cool down contact 311 or click here.
If you’ve passed by our flagship location at 1130 Grand Concourse recently, you may have noticed ongoing construction to the exterior and interior of the building. The BronxWorks Carolyn McLaughlin Community Center (CMCC) is undergoing major capital improvements to modernize the 100-year-old building. This community center has been an icon of the Grand Concourse since it opened in 1926. A century later, BronxWorks is striving to maintain its longevity, not only has a hub of community services, but also as a historic building in the Bronx community.
The overall capital improvement project is still in early stages, although several renovations have begun throughout the building. The first project, completed earlier this year, modernized the second-floor bathrooms, which now features an ADA-compliant family restroom and an expanded gender-neutral restroom with multiple stalls.
The finalized gender-neutral restrooms on the second floor of the building.
The front elevation of the building is currently undergoing restoration to maintain the architectural style. Some upgrades include replicating historical architectural elements, such as stone details and granite bases. New railings and lighting fixtures will also be added to enhance both accessibility and safety. 1130 Grand Concourse has been recognized by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission as having a special historical and architectural value to the community. As such, the goal with the exterior work is to preserve the building’s cultural significance in the Bronx.
Rendering of the exterior updates to the front of the building.
Concurrently, the entrance and lobby are also under construction, with the goal of reimagining the experience for those entering the building. The lobby will feature an expanded waiting area, as well as updated information panels and floorplan. Another necessary and long-awaited improvement for this century-old building is the installation of an upgraded HVAC system.
Top photo: The lobby of 1130 Grand Concourse, prior to the start of construction. Bottom photo: Rendering of the reimagined lobby, featuring the new waiting area.
For the last century, 1130 Grand Concourse has been used in service of the community. In 1926, the building opened as a children’s shelter for the Bronx Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. In 1951, it became the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association, and then transitioned to the Girls Club in the 1980s. In 1993, BronxWorks acquired the building when combining with the Girls Club, and we have operated services here ever since.
1130 Grand Concourse throughout the years. Top left: 1920’s, when the building was a children’s shelter for the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children; Top right: 1980’s, when the building was home to the Girls Club; Bottom left: 2000’s, owned by BronxWorks, then known as the Citizen’s Advice Bureau as listed on the yellow banner; Bottom right: 2020’s, now known as the BronxWorks Carolyn McLaughlin Community Center.
With these renovations, BronxWorks is working to create a more accessible, comfortable environment for community members as they engage with services. Our staff are committed to providing high-quality programming to uplift our neighbors, and we want the location of the services to reflect that as well. We are also seeking to increase capacity for staff and programs within the building, as our largest service location. CMCC currently contains over a dozen programs, more than 100 staff each day, the BronxWorks Indoor Pool, the organization’s IT department, and the kitchen with the largest daily output. Our reach within the community also increases each year, therefore causing us to consistently need additional space for services. Some of the planned renovations to the building, such as a second, ADA-compliant elevator and an upgraded kitchen, will help to expand the building’s footprint and capacity. The current projects are just Phase 1 of the overall Capital Improvement Project, and additional phases of renovations will unfold in the coming years.
This Capital Improvements Project would not be possible without the support and partnership from Matiz Architecture & Design, Archstone Builders LLC, Urban Projects Collaborative, and all those who participate in the BronxWorks Board of Directors Facilities Committee. Your expertise and guidance are invaluable as we embark upon this journey to create a modernized community center.
In addition, we are incredibly grateful for funding received from New York State Governor Kathy Hochul through the BRICKS initiative, New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and State Assemblymember Landon Dais, New York State Senator Luis Sepulveda, the Office of Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, and New York City Council Member Althea Stevens and the Bronx Delegation.
Lastly, thank you to the staff and community members who are adapting to these changes as we continue to provide services at CMCC. Your patience and understanding are so appreciated, and we are excited for everyone to see the new renovations!
Stay tuned for more updates on the Capital Improvements Project on this page!
If you’ve passed by our flagship location at 1130 Grand Concourse recently, you may have noticed ongoing construction to the exterior and interior of the building. The BronxWorks Carolyn McLaughlin Community Center (CMCC) is undergoing major capital improvements to modernize the 100-year-old building. This community center has been an icon of the Grand Concourse since it opened in 1926. A century later, BronxWorks is striving to maintain its longevity, not only has a hub of community services, but also as a historic building in the Bronx community.
The overall capital improvement project is still in early stages, although several renovations have begun throughout the building. The first project, completed earlier this year, modernized the second-floor bathrooms, which now features an ADA-compliant family restroom and an expanded gender-neutral restroom with multiple stalls.
The finalized gender-neutral restrooms on the second floor of the building.
The front elevation of the building is currently undergoing restoration to maintain the architectural style. Some upgrades include replicating historical architectural elements, such as stone details and granite bases. New railings and lighting fixtures will also be added to enhance both accessibility and safety. 1130 Grand Concourse has been recognized by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission as having a special historical and architectural value to the community. As such, the goal with the exterior work is to preserve the building’s cultural significance in the Bronx.
Rendering of the exterior updates to the front of the building.
Concurrently, the entrance and lobby are also under construction, with the goal of reimagining the experience for those entering the building. The lobby will feature an expanded waiting area, as well as updated information panels and floorplan. Another necessary and long-awaited improvement for this century-old building is the installation of an upgraded HVAC system.
Top photo: The lobby of 1130 Grand Concourse, prior to the start of construction. Bottom photo: Rendering of the reimagined lobby, featuring the new waiting area.
For the last century, 1130 Grand Concourse has been used in service of the community. In 1926, the building opened as a children’s shelter for the Bronx Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. In 1951, it became the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association, and then transitioned to the Girls Club in the 1980s. In 1993, BronxWorks acquired the building when combining with the Girls Club, and we have operated services here ever since.
1130 Grand Concourse throughout the years. Top left: 1920’s, when the building was a children’s shelter for the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children; Top right: 1980’s, when the building was home to the Girls Club; Bottom left: 2000’s, owned by BronxWorks, then known as the Citizen’s Advice Bureau as listed on the yellow banner; Bottom right: 2020’s, now known as the BronxWorks Carolyn McLaughlin Community Center.
With these renovations, BronxWorks is working to create a more accessible, comfortable environment for community members as they engage with services. Our staff are committed to providing high-quality programming to uplift our neighbors, and we want the location of the services to reflect that as well. We are also seeking to increase capacity for staff and programs within the building, as our largest service location. CMCC currently contains over a dozen programs, more than 100 staff each day, the BronxWorks Indoor Pool, the organization’s IT department, and the kitchen with the largest daily output. Our reach within the community also increases each year, therefore causing us to consistently need additional space for services. Some of the planned renovations to the building, such as a second, ADA-compliant elevator and an upgraded kitchen, will help to expand the building’s footprint and capacity. The current projects are just Phase 1 of the overall Capital Improvement Project, and additional phases of renovations will unfold in the coming years.
This Capital Improvements Project would not be possible without the support and partnership from Matiz Architecture & Design, Archstone Builders LLC, Urban Projects Collaborative, and all those who participate in the BronxWorks Board of Directors Facilities Committee. Your expertise and guidance are invaluable as we embark upon this journey to create a modernized community center.
In addition, we are incredibly grateful for funding received from New York State Governor Kathy Hochul through the BRICKS initiative, New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and State Assemblymember Landon Dais, New York State Senator Luis Sepulveda, the Office of Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, and New York City Council Member Althea Stevens and the Bronx Delegation.
Lastly, thank you to the staff and community members who are adapting to these changes as we continue to provide services at CMCC. Your patience and understanding are so appreciated, and we are excited for everyone to see the new renovations!
Stay tuned for more updates on the Capital Improvements Project on this page!
