It’s an East Harlem DREAM come true: a new charter school beneath affordable housing
Ground has been broken for a Harlem RBI DREAM charter school, with inexpensive apartments above it, on a lot in the middle of NYCHA’s Washington Houses
AN ONLY-in-New York-partnership is about to create an $80 million miracle for residents of East Harlem — a spanking new school and homes that won’t break the bank.
Thanks to a Yankee slugger, the city’s public housing czar and a proudly green developer of affordable houses, a major new charter school will be developed on E. 104th St. along with 88 inexpensive apartments.
Construction began after a groundbreaking on Feb. 7 for the 11-story building, which will house Harlem RBI’s new DREAM Charter School at street level, with desperately needed affordable homes soaring above.
After 18 months of construction, Harlem RBI, a nonprofit academic and sports-enrichment youth program, expects to open the school by August 2014. Residents — whose household income will be capped at $49,800 — will move into the 151,000-square-foot building at the same time.
The ambitious project to build on a parking lot in the middle of the New York City Housing Authority’s Washington Houses complex would still be on the drawing boards if not for the commitment of many people including:
Yankee first baseman Mark Teixeira, a board member of Harlem RBI and its No. 1 fund-raiser. He donated $1 million of his own money and helped RBI raise another $15 million.
“These children and families deserve a beautiful, state-of-the-art educational facility where they can learn, a park where they are safe to play — and Harlem RBI and the DREAM School by their side to help them grow,” said Teixeira.
The project was financed through a combination of loans, grants, donations and tax credits, including a $32.5 million grant from the School Construction Authority to help pay for the school, office space and renovation of adjacent Blake Hobbs Park.
Referring to the school’s sports programing, Teixeira said, “Baseball is the hook . . . but when we get them into our new building, they’re going to realize they have every opportunity to learn to read and write with the best of them.”
l NYCHA’s embattled Chairman John Rhea — under fire after a Daily News series on epic blunders and mismanagement at his agency — provided the site, smack dab in the middle of a major city housing project.
In its bid to raise cash, NYCHA has been peddling tracts of land to high-end developers at several of its projects, a controversial practice.
But its mission includes the expansion of affordable housing, so NYCHA agreed to sell the property to the developers at below-market value — with the condition that low-income housing be developed.
“This project is all about building a more prosperous community and city — and a more prosperous future for our children,” Rhea said.
“We are ensuring that quality housing, well-run schools, great facilities, fantastic fields where our children can play, are thriving right here in East Harlem.”
l Jonathan Rose, a for-profit developer who specializes in teaming up with nonprofit organizations to create green buildings boasting thousands of affordable apartments. He partnered with Harlem RBI and, together, they worked to buy NYCHA’s little-used parking lot.
“It’s fantastic,” Rose said. “How can the residents move forward? They need housing, health and learning centers — and this development site offers all of that.”
Plans call for designating 70 apartments, or 80% of the units, for households earning more than $32,200 but less than $49,800 a year. Those tenants will pay $1,022 for a two-bedroom apartment.
Another 18 apartments, or 20% of the units, will be designated for households earning less than $32,200, who will pay only $648 for a two-bedroom apartment. One quarter of the units will be prioritized for people on NYCHA’s waiting list.
Located between Second and Third Aves., the project will also include office space for nonprofit organizations and the headquarters for Harlem RBI.
The K-8 DREAM School is expecting enrollment to increase from 300 to 450 by the completion of the project in time for the next school year. The school will set aside 50% of its seats for children who live in the Washington Houses.
“This whole area needed a change. It was kind of crazy,” said Maria Ortiz, a community member and parent. “I believe DREAM and RBI have done a lot with their after-school programs and baseball for the teenagers and kids. They’re doing an awesome job.”
By Jheanel Walters AND Douglas Feiden / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/uptown/uptown-new-charter-school-affordable-housing-rising-east-harlem-article-1.1266540#ixzz2LIizH1LS