City Opens Expanded Manhattan Pet Adoption Center on East 109th Street

DOHMH: Patrick Gallahue, 347-396-4177, pgallahue@health.nyc.gov
DDC: Ian Michaels, 646-939-6514, michaelia@ddc.nyc.gov

(New York, NY – October 28, 2024) The NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) and the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) today joined Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) and local community leaders to celebrate the completion of the new Manhattan Pet Adoption Center, which is opening to the public on October 29. The $6.3 million project to create the new 2,500-square-foot center converted a former garage at 323 East 109th Street into a modern, welcoming space to connect dogs, cats, guinea pigs and other animals with their future families. DDC managed the project for DOHMH and ACC.

“Our administration continues to work to make sure no animal is left behind, and with the opening of this Manhattan pet adoption center, dozens of animals will be able to be housed and hopefully connected with their forever families,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “I commend the DDC’s work turning an underutilized garage into a place for these animals to be housed, as well as the ACC’s tireless work making sure these animals are well-cared for.”  

"Healthy communities care for their most vulnerable. That means finding good homes for stray animals, members of our families we simply haven't met yet," said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. "Thanks to the hard work of several city agencies, including DDC and DOHMH, and our partners at the Animal Care Center, we’re delivering new animal adoption centers and shelters across the boroughs-- good, safe places for New Yorkers to meet their furry friends. When the Governor signs alternative delivery into law, we will be able to deliver spaces like these faster and at lower cost, a real win for everyone."

"We are incredibly proud to partner with DOHMH and DDC to bring this brand-new adoption center to East Harlem," said ACC President and CEO Risa Weinstock. "This state-of-the-art facility will allow us to showcase the amazing animals waiting for their forever homes and will undoubtedly lead to more adoptions, bringing us closer to our goal of ending animal homelessness in NYC."

“DDC builds cool, interesting, and diverse projects in every neighborhood of the city, and our program with DOHMH to build larger and more modern animal shelters is helping animals in need find their loving forever homes,” said DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley. “We're happy to finish this animal shelter for Manhattan even as we're continuing work on two additional ones in Brooklyn and the Bronx."

“We are excited to be opening this beautiful facility that’s filled with natural light and perfectly designed for New Yorkers looking to adopt and build a pet family,” said Health Department Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Health Corinne Schiff. “With the expanded capacity, we’ll enhance the animal adoption experience while improving the lives of the animals in our care and creating a welcoming environment for the community.”

“October is Adopt-A-Dog Month, and New York City knows how to celebrate,” said Director of the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare Alexandra Silver. “Those of us who are fortunate to have animals in our lives know how much joy, comfort, and richness they bring, and this new pet adoption center is a welcoming place for New Yorkers to meet wonderful companions. Thank you to everyone at the DDC, DOHMH, and ACC for their work on this important project and commitment to helping animals in NYC.”

“The opening of Animal Care Centers of NYC’s Manhattan Pet Adoption Center creates even more opportunities for pets to be placed into loving homes with local residents at a time when shelters in New York City, and across the country, are at capacity,” said American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) President and CEO Matt Bershadker. “The ASPCA collaborates closely with ACC to increase adoptions and improve access to care for New York City’s most vulnerable animals, and we look forward to continuing that longstanding support of their innovative programs to help even more animals in need throughout the city.”

Project details

The project renovated the old garage’s interior and exterior with new roofing, skylights, lighting and fixtures, while a new glass system for the kennel area now showcases the animals available for adoption. The building’s floor was replaced with a new concrete slab that includes additional drainage, and new energy-efficient HVAC equipment was installed to meet the current standards for animal care. A new front entry is fully accessible to the public while a second exit was added so that staff could more easily access the rear yard behind the building. The building’s cellar was also upgraded and waterproofed.

The building now has a colorful façade that brings in daylight and creates an attractive and engaging street presence, while a steel rainscreen adds depth while preserving the existing masonry behind it. The design, which was completed by the firm Studio Joseph as part of DDC’s Design and Construction Excellence program, has won an Award for Excellence in Design from the NYC Public Design Commission and a Global Future Design Award from the design industry group APR.

DDC completed its work at the new Manhattan Pet Adoption Center in February 2024. Last month, DOHMH and ACC opened the first full service animal shelter in Queens. DDC has recently completed or is working on four separate animal shelter projects. Mayor Eric Adams joined DDC, DOHMH and ACC in October 2022 to open a new shelter in Staten Island. In May 2023, the city broke ground on a new facility in the Bronx. DDC is also renovating the Brooklyn Animal Care Center for ACC.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor Adams’ long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $33 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.