ORLANDO, Fla. – The children at the New Image Youth Center are laying their eyes on the ideas for their new building for the first time.
“It’s an amazing concept. I really do hope it comes to life,” said Sriaj Clark.
Executive Director Shanta Barton-Stubbs said they’ve been operating out of two buildings off of Parramore Avenue since they had to leave their third building after it was sold in 2022.
Now they want to knock down a building two blocks down off Anderson Street to build their new home.
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“Our building is looking to be approximately 8,000 square feet. That’s gonna include six classrooms. It’s gonna include a kitchen space that we’ll be able to use as a flex space,” Barton-Stubbs said.
Due to the age and poor condition of the current building, Barton-Stubbs said instead of renovating, they’ll rebuild.
“The many years I’ve been going here it’s only been two classrooms. So to have six classes it’s gonna age big,” said Clark.
Barton-Stubbs said it’s a $4 million project but thanks to a million dollar donation from the United Way and another $1 million dollars from AdventHealth last year, they’re halfway to their goal.
Barton-Stubbs said they’ll post a public notice to inform the community about the project.
Later this year, they will have a presentation in front of the board of commissioners.
She hopes the project is completed within the next three years.