One of the larger problems facing Yorktown is that the older residents have to move away because they can no longer live in their house in Yorktown without assistance.

Yorktown Arms is an answer to part of this problem. The residential facility opened in 1997 and currently houses 96 residents. Yorktown Arms is an “age in place” community for the elderly. The apartment complex has a sense of community similar to the one in Yorktown. The facility has a Residents Council, floor captains and community rooms for group activities.

Priscilla Woods is the executive director of the Yorktown Community Development Corp. (CDC). Due to extenuating circumstances, the interview had to be conducted over e-mail. Yorktown Arms is a community-based effort with the Yorktown CDC acting as the sole managing general partner.

Woods talks about the monthly birthday celebrations held in the building. They are slated for the last Friday of the month, “While this is planned as an "ice cream n' cake reception", folks make their special dish, bring cards to the celebrants, get dressed, and come out to socialize and enjoy the company of neighbors.

“It’s nice. They have monthly birthday parties. I like that. You can tell everybody how old you are. Of course, the woman don’t like to tell everybody how old they are, but the men don’t care,” said Douglas Gordan, who has been living in Yorktown Arms for four years.

Andrew Morman has lived in Yorktown Arms for three or four years now. He moved to Yorktown Arms after the city bought his home.

“This is a good place,” he said, “I don’t want to leave now. I’ve got too many friends here, you know how it is when you get friends. You can sit down and talk to people, tell them about the old times and that’s it.”

Woods mentioned recent deaths of residents and the response of the residents in Yorktown Arms, “In such situations, the Yorktown Arms ‘family’ is there to do what they can for the families; send condolence, and attend services.”

The feeling of community that is pervasive throughout the Yorktown neighborhood is also present throughout the halls of the Yorktown Arms apartment complex.

Mr. Jenkins, who prefers to go by “Teddy Bear,” is “an original” as Woods called him. He is from the Yorktown area and moved into Yorktown Arms 10 years ago. His sister bought him an apartment when the facility opened. His brother still lives in his home in Yorktown.

 “I loved it from the first time I saw this place,” he said, “I love living here. All my friends are here.”

As the workers and residents walk by, everyone knows one another’s name and everyone greets each other. One nice days, residents sit outside and talk. They greet people as they leave and enter the building.

Volunteers from the community come to read to the residents. There is currently a “Reading Buddies” program. The program is in collaboration with P. L. Dunbar School. Students come on Wednesdays to read and do projects.

“Both are enriched by the experience, which often develops into a relationship with the child and its family,” said Woods.

A few months ago, “Phase II” opened. It is a 33-unit addition to the Yorktown Arms building that is funded by low-income tax credits and affordable housing program funds among other sources.

Woods said that the addition has brought new energy to the residence. According to Woods, activities such as going to the pool, Bible Study and movie night to name a few have seen a revival after the opening of the addition.

“It seems the new folks brought ‘new energy to the house,’” said Woods.

Yorktown Arms presents the elderly residents of Yorktown with a place to stay once they can no longer keep their homes in Yorktown. Even for people not originally from Yorktown, the residence provides a sense of warmth and family that is often missing in large, sterile retirement communities.

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