Mayor de Blasio, Chancellor Carranza, Council Member Espinal And Borough President Adams Break Ground On New School Building In East New York

August 20, 2018

New 1000-seat school, part of East New York Neighborhood Plan, will include state-of-the-art science labs, occupational and physical therapy spaces, art and music rooms, and 1,000 square-foot rooftop greenhouse

EAST NEW YORK––Mayor Bill de Blasio, Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza, Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen, Council Member Rafael Espinal and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams broke ground today on a new school facility in East New York. The new state-of-the-art building will provide 1,000 seats for pre-K through 8th grade students, and will open for the 2020-21 school year.

“For too long in our city, developers wrote the rules while government stood on the sidelines and caused working people to become displaced and many neighborhoods to go underserved. We believe every zip code deserves high-quality education and are proud to deliver on our promise to the people of East New York with this new state of the art school, which will provide enough seats for future generations to come,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“This new state-of-the-art-building will be a remarkable asset to Brooklyn students and families,” said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “I thank our partners for their collaboration, and look forward to seeing students here in just two years. We’re continuing to invest in high-quality schools and school buildings that give students the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.”

“As the first neighborhood plan we created, East New York has helped define our overall approach to rezoning. In East New York we learned that the best plans are shaped in close partnership with the community,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen. “Here, we started with community stakeholders to understand neighborhood needs first-hand - and the result has been a plan grounded in expanding housing affordability and growing community assets.”

“Zoning is one tool that we use to help communities grow and local residents  thrive. It is so rewarding to see years of collaborative planning by the City and the community bearing fruit, as evidenced by this new schools,” City Planning Commission Chair Marisa Lago said.

“A school is so much more than a building full of classrooms. It is where our students learn valuable life lessons, build community, and friendship,” said Council Member Rafael Espinal. “That is why I am so proud that this state-of-the art school will provide technology, recreation and resources to make our students thrive. I also secured an extra $1 million to fund a greenhouse roof so that our students will have access to education in Urban farming, and the importance of healthy food from a young age. Putting them ahead of the curve around the conversation of sustainable cities. I am happy to see the many investments of the East New York Plan come through to fruition, no longer will the children on my community be disfranchised.”

“We’re not only breaking ground on a new school, we’re breaking ground on a brighter tomorrow for the children of East New York. I thank Mayor de Blasio for investing in this state-of-the-art educational facility that will be a beacon of hope for so many families, and I applaud Council Member Espinal in particular for his advocacy on this critical project, including his direction of funding for a rooftop greenhouse that will advance our shared cause of urban agriculture studies. When we invest in education, we invest in our future,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

Located at 3269 Atlantic Avenue, the building will be fully ADA-accessible and includes:

• Two state-of-the-art science labs;
• Gymatorium and two exercise rooms;
• Occupational therapy and physical therapy spaces;
• Two art rooms;
• A music room with sound-proof practice space;
• A 1,000-square-foot rooftop greenhouse, funded by Council Member Espinal;
• A school yard with a basketball court, play equipment, and benches and trees;
• The building will house a District 75 program.

“This new state-of-the-art school building will bring excitement and vibrancy to all students who come through these doors” said Lorraine Grillo, President and CEO of the NYC School Construction Authority. “This new space will include all the amenities we expect in a world class educational facility and we are proud to be bringing this school to East New York.”

The East New York Neighborhood Plan is a comprehensive plan to promote affordable housing and economic development, create pedestrian-friendly streets and invest in community resources and services that support the long-term growth and sustainability of East New York, Cypress Hills and Ocean Hill. The Plan was developed through a years-long, robust community planning process which involved close collaboration with residents, stakeholders and elected officials – and that commits $267 million in capital projects and services for East New York residents.

The elementary and middle school is among the most important commitments made to the East New York community as part of the plan, which was adopted by the City Council in 2016.

Others, which have also already been budgeted and many of which are also underway, include parks and playground improvements, creation of affordable housing, assistance for homeowners and resources for local businesses. For more information on status and metrics for servicers provided and commitments made – including providing nearly 3,500 tenants facing eviction with free legal representation – click here.

The East New York Plan is projected to create nearly 6,000 new apartments in the next fifteen years, with deep affordability commitments from the City. Since 2014, the administration has financed 3,145 new affordable homes in East New York, including 2,300 affordable homes that have been financed since the plan was adopted.

Earlier this summer, the de Blasio Administration launched the NYC Rezoning Commitments Tracker, an interactive map that details progress on all City commitments made to communities as part of comprehensive neighborhood plans, in East New York, East Harlem, Downtown Far Rockaway, Greater East Midtown, and Jerome Avenue. This new tool reflects the City’s holistic approach to neighborhood planning and commitment to transparency and good governance, providing a window into the Administration’s efforts to create a stronger and fairer city neighborhood by neighborhood.

“When you build a school, you build a community. They are among the few public projects that transform communities overnight. The Mayor and Council Member Espinal are looking to East New York’s greatest asset to ensure the community’s success, the generations to come,” said Senator Martin Malavé Dilan.