Greater Centennial AME Zion presents concept for Belvie and Shirley Jackson Family Life Center

Greater Centennial AME Zion Church presented a concept plan on Feb. 5, 2025, to the Mount Vernon City Planning Board for a proposed Belvie and Shirley Jackson Family Life Center at 318 South Eighth Avenue that would include a gymnasium, multipurpose rooms and classrooms for youth and community programs.

At the meeting, architect and engineer Capi Sabir of SRWs described the proposed single‑story, roughly 24,000‑square‑foot building with a full basement. Sabir said the team found the existing structure on the site was structurally unsound after years of exposure and that the proposal calls for demolition of the above‑grade building, reuse of portions of the foundation where feasible and construction of a new prefabricated building to house offices, a gym and multipurpose spaces.

Why it matters: Presenters said the center would create indoor recreational and educational space in an area they described as lacking play space and classrooms for children and teens living near the church. The planning board’s initial reaction was supportive; commissioners noted variances will be needed and encouraged the applicant to follow zoning procedures and return after obtaining required variance approvals.

Applicant presentation and board feedback
Capi Sabir introduced the project and said Greater Centennial has a long history of community service and outreach, including food distribution and youth programs. Pastor (name) said the center would honor the late Reverend Dr. Belvie Jackson, a former pastor and community leader, and provide safe year‑round recreation and classroom space for neighborhood youth: “We are grateful and thankful for the opportunity to present this concept to the planning board. This will be eventually the Belvie and Shirley Jackson Family Life Center.”

Sabir said the project team proposes a prefabricated Butler‑type building set on a modified existing foundation and noted that many variances previously granted for an earlier iteration of the project (circa 2007) would need to be requested again because the earlier approvals have lapsed. The board’s comments were broadly favorable: commissioners praised the community benefit, encouraged the applicant to proceed through zoning and noted that the matter will return after required zoning variances are obtained.

No formal action taken
This was a concept review only. Commissioners did not vote on any formal approvals at the Feb. 5 meeting; staff advised the applicant that formal variance applications and supporting materials (detailed plans, zoning applications and required reviews) would be required before the project could proceed to final site plan review.

Ending
The applicant said they will prepare formal variance requests and required application materials and return to the planning board for subsequent review as zoning and other land‑use approvals are obtained.