New Image Youth Center in Parramore working to find a new home

ORLANDO, Fla. — A youth center that provides year-round services to dozens of Orlando-area children is losing some of its much-needed space.

New Image Youth Center has been helping children in the Parramore neighborhood for years. It has used three spaces inside a building along Parramore Avenue, renting each space from a different landlord.

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Founder and Executive Director Shanta Barton Stubbs learned on Monday that she will have to vacate the premises in 45 days. She said her rent is always on time, but the owner wants to sell.

“This is a heartbreaker to know that the space you’ve been able to go to for seven years is now being taken away,” she said.

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Stubbs said she tried to buy the building several years ago, but her budget couldn’t handle the nearly $500,000 sticker price.

“To lose this meaning we are actually losing programs that we often do,” she said.

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Channel 9 reached out to the property owner, but has not heard back.

City Commissioner Regina Hill said she is working to provide a solution, including possibly using space in one of the city-owned buildings.

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