Northside community center breaks ground in north St. Louis

Northside Youth and Senior Services Center (NSYSSC) – or just called "Northside" by neighbors – has served the Ville for over 50 years, and its operations have long outgrown its original building. On Thursday, June 11, 2026, NSYSSC held a groundbreaking for its new intergenerational community center.

Located just down the block from its current headquarters, the new building holds promise for the organization's expansion. It aims to provide a safe space for community members of all ages to gather. Just a few of the services provided by NSYSSC include youth summer and afterschool programs, a robust Meals on Wheels program that served 738 seniors in 2024, job training, computer and fitness classes for senior citizens, and counseling. Northside also has buses that serve residents and clients to transport them, along with a fleet of electric vehicles.

The new space will span 16,000 square feet and house a multipurpose room, gymnasium, a commercial kitchen, a pantry and basic needs distribution facility, computer lab, an outdoor activity area, collaboration spaces, and private meeting rooms.

The resources for the community will be able to expand and grow in the newer and bigger space. The new intergenerational community center will also serve as a community gathering space.

In an interview with Executive Director Leon Threat, he discussed the importance of having a meeting space within the community.

"I think it serves as a rallying point, and I think that the disasters and emergencies that I've actually worked at Northside and been through. We needed spaces where groups can come together and be able to organize," Threat said.

After the May 16 tornado, NSYSSC was quick to act and organize, providing almost 2,000 meals a day to residents in need. Residents lost gas, water, and electricity in their homes, and the need for fresh meals was great. Northside showed its exemplary ability to organize and use its space for neighbors to gather and collaborate.

The new community center will also serve as an intergenerational and third space. Third spaces are places that are separate from the home and office. This new community center will serve as a place where people can gather, collaborate, and laugh. NSYSSC provides a place for people of all ages to come together and learn from each other. It fosters community across generations and eliminates barriers for seniors to find connection with their neighbors.

Threat also described that the community center was even serving five generations at one time, which is an opportunity for mentorship, strengthening community pride, and tackling isolation in seniors.

"The main goals of the community center are to support residents across the arc of life, so they can age in this community," Threat said.

The new community center shows the Ville's resiliency and the NSYSSC's efforts to truly and wholly support everyone in their community. By serving all age groups, being an accessible environment, and its commitment to providing third spaces for the community, NSYSSC is a true example of what caring for one's community looks like.

"We break ground not just for a building. We break ground for hope. We break ground for dignity. We break ground for opportunity. We break ground for a stronger north St. Louis," Threat emphasized the significance of the new center at its groundbreaking.

The community center was made possible by a $305,000 ARPA-funded Neighborhood Transformation Grant award for predevelopment activities from the Community Development Administration (CDA) in 2023. The seed money, used for design and site preparation, was used to kick-start the $5.7 million project that is now being funded through the Saint Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), federal funds, and various donors.

CDA staff and Mayor Cara Spencer were present with NSYSSC Executive Director Leon Threat. Left to right are CDA Executive Director Matt Moak, Mayor Cara Spencer, Marnita Spight (CDA), Anita Poole (CDA), Leon Threat, Ruth Keenoy (CDA), City of St. Louis Chief Recovery Officer Julian Nicks, and Tom Nagel (CDA).