Senator Serrano Joins Community Members to Officially Break Ground for the New HEArts Center in the Bronx

BRONX, N.Y. - In September, Senator Serrano was honored to join South Bronx Unite, colleagues, and community members to officially break ground for the new HEArts Center (Health, Education, Arts). He was proud to have provided the HEArts Center with $1.2 million, and stated that, "it is an important investment in the health and well-being of the South Bronx, a community that has long faced significant health disparities, with dedicated, affordable spaces for health and wellness practitioners."

This HEArts Center represents over 15 years of organization, leadership, and collaboration to bring a community-led hub for health, education, workforce development, and the arts to the South Bronx. As the Senator for the 29th Senate District, proudly representing the South Bronx and East Harlem, I am so happy to have supported the HEArts Center with a capital grant and to celebrate this monumental milestone. This investment is long-overdue for our community, and this groundbreaking will provide a much-needed community hub for healing, learning, creativity, culture, and connection. Thank you to Governor Kathy Hochul, my colleagues in government, NYC Economic Development Corporation, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NYS Energy Research and Development Authority, and the community members for their investment to bring this much-needed community space to the South Bronx.

-NYS Senator José M. Serrano 

The final plan will include a wellness space for holistic and preventative health services, a 120-seat auditorium, classrooms and meeting rooms, workforce development programs for green jobs and educational programming, and office space. Additionally, under consideration is the creation of a commercial kitchen and cafeteria that would provide nutritious meals while teaching community members how to cook. The new HEArts Center for workforce development, health, education, and the arts is expected to open in late 2028. 

The building is on the site of the former Lincoln Recovery Center, once home to the community‑created Lincoln Detox Program led by local residents and activist groups such as the Young Lords. To read more about the history, see this 2025 New York Times article.

Read the full Bronx Times article here.