OPEN Impact Real Estate represents Mercy Center in 6,252 s/f lease at La Central in the Bronx
Bronx, NY OPEN Impact Real Estate (OPEN), one of the largest woman-owned commercial real estate services companies specializing in nonprofit real estate, represented Mercy Center — a locally-based nonprofit providing family support, education, and youth development programs — in securing a 15-year lease for 6,252 s/f on the ground floor of 435 Westchester Ave.
Mercy Center will relocate from its offices and program rooms at 332 East 149th St. this September to a retail storefront at the base of Building B at La Central, a newly constructed affordable housing complex in the Melrose neighborhood.
The new space features double-height ceilings reaching 20-ft. and a dedicated storefront entrance, offering increased visibility and accessibility for the people and families Mercy Center serves. The building, completed in 2021, includes nearly 500 units of affordable housing and a range of community-focused organizations at its base.
Mercy Center’s previous lease was set to expire, prompting the organization to seek a similarly sized space within its core catchment area that would allow for continued growth and provide closer proximity to its owned property. The new location enables Mercy Center to strengthen its presence in the South Bronx while expanding its community impact.
“Our goal was to secure a long-term home that would support Mercy Center’s growth while deepening its connection to the community it serves,” said Alexander Smith of OPEN Impact Real Estate. “This space provides the visibility, accessibility and flexibility they need to continue expanding their programs and reaching more families in the Bronx.”
At La Central, Mercy Center will continue delivering comprehensive programming, including adult education, English language classes, case management, and immigration legal services.
OPEN’s brokerage team included Smith and Eshaan Gandhi. The landlord, La Central NMTC LLC, was represented by Cooper Katz, Mark Tergesen, and Howard Gilbert of ABS Partners. Although the terms of the transaction were not disclosed, asking rents at the building are in the mid-$40s per s/f.
“Throughout this process, Open Impact Real Estate provided several possible locations while working to find a space that will meet our present needs, as well as provide opportunities for growth, to help meet the ever-changing needs of our community,” said Stephen Stritch III, executive director of Mercy Center. “Mercy Center remains grateful for the diligence, enthusiasm, knowledge, guidance and care that they displayed. We knew all along that we were in very good hands.