‘We’re thriving’: Hasselbring Senior Center finds new home

FLINT, Mich. — After a lengthy court battle over its former building, the Hasselbring Senior Center has found a new home at 1678 W. Pierson Road inside the James E. Kennedy Christian Life Center. 

The nonprofit completed its move to the new location on March 2, 2025 settling about a mile from its previous site.

“It’s close—only about a mile from the previous center. They had the space we needed, and the offer was there,” Director Beverly Lewis said. “Most of our regular people are still coming. I’m not upset with anybody who decides they want to stay [at the city-run center] instead, they’re still welcome.”

The new center is situated on a main road, making it easier for seniors to find and access. “The parking is right at the door, and we don’t have to navigate through a neighborhood anymore. The seniors love that,” Lewis said.

Additionally, the facility’s layout also allows for better interaction, with pool tables, card games, domino tables and exercise equipment arranged in a communal space rather than separate rooms.

“They love the fact that they can all be together, which is totally different from what we had at the other center,” Lewis said.

Some final adjustments are still underway, including a health department review for the commercial kitchen and minor updates such as bathroom renovations. However, meal services continue and new programs are in the works.

Upcoming events include a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, a movie day and a grand reopening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 31. A fish fry fundraiser is also scheduled for April 5.

Late last year, the city announced plans to take over responsibilities for servicing
and maintaining the Hasselbring Senior Center, after the Flint City Council failed to vote on extending the center’s lease agreement.

Despite the legal battle over the previous building, Lewis expressed relief and satisfaction with the transition. “I can exhale. We’re thriving, and the seniors are happy. That’s what matters most,” she said.

The center’s new hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.