METHUEN - A new community center will open in the Arlington neighborhood in time for the start of the school year in September.

The city has hired a New Hampshire contractor for the five-month project to erect a two-story modular building at the Tenney Street playground, which will become the home of Methuen Arlington Neighborhood Inc.

The City Council has approved a $541,527 contract with Pope Industries of Atkinson, N.H., to lead the construction. The project is being paid for with about $480,000 from the Community Development Block Grant program and $60,000 from Methuen Arlington Neighborhood Inc., the nonprofit group that will run and eventually own the center.

"We are very excited to have a center to allow all (the students) that want to come to our facility," said Linda Soucy, founder of Methuen Arlington Neighborhood Inc. and head of its after-school homework program.

The project is expected to be finished by Aug. 28. The facility will more than double the space at the community center on Broadway.

Soucy said the organization outgrew its community center years ago and has not had space to expand its programs. The new center will allow 150 students a day to use the center, Soucy said, up from the maximum of 70 the current center holds.

Methuen Arlington Neighborhood Inc. works mostly with low- to moderate-income families offering services, including homework help, job training for parents, a summer program, sports and camp memberships, karate, and other neighborhood programs.

"This will give the kids a much better opportunity to improve their education," Soucy said.

Joan Mejia, a Merrimack College graduate who has been a volunteer and mentor at the center for six years, said the programs help children who need it most.

"I can't stress enough the importance of this homework center," Mejia said, adding it is exciting to see the program opened up to more children by having the additional space in the new center.

Councilor Phil Lahey, who once lived in the Arlington district, said the new center is one of the "nicest" things he's seen happen in the city.

"While some of us left (the neighborhood), others stayed and took back the neighborhood," Lahey said. "They earned this the old-fashioned way."

A local social service agency will rent the basement of the new building and the rental income will help pay for utilities and other expenses. The homework center and other neighborhood programs will have the first floor for homework space, up to 30 computer work stations, and a quiet study area.

The new location at 141 Tenney St. is more centrally located for residents and will be easier for children to walk to, Soucy said. Students also will have access to the adjacent playground.