Photos by Peter Brownscombe
On Sunday afternoon, several local elected officials, community activists and residents
gathered on Avenue B at Ninth Street to rally for the return of the former P.S. 64 (aka CHARAS/El Bohio) to the community ...
Last month, Supreme Court Justice Melissa Crane ruled that Madison Realty Capital can move forward with a foreclosure against building landlord Gregg Singer after years of delay.
When this news circulated, several sources EVG spoke with said that the report was expected. At this point, though, sources said what happens next, or what this means for the future of the building, is anyone's guess.
However, the answer is clear for the group members — nearly 100 strong — in attendance Sunday afternoon.
"CHARAS was the heart of the community, where all could gather, learn, create and celebrate," said Chino Garcia, co-founder, CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center. "We urge the city to seize this opportunity to right the wrongs of the Giuliani administration in sending CHARAS to auction and restore this once vital institution."
The building at 605 E. Ninth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C became the CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center after the school left in 1977. The group was eventually evicted in December 2001 when Singer took over as the landlord. (He bought the property from the city during an auction in 1998 for $3.15 million.)
Singer has wanted to build a dorm here.
As Gothamist reported, a rep for Singer distributed a press release at the rally stating that "if approved, the dormitory plan would inject more than $20 million into the economy of the local community. The developer blamed local politicians for halting development and creating 'a vacant eyesore in the community.'"
There has been a call to return the building for community use in years past. Given this movement some hope: then-Mayor de Blasio's statement at a Town Hall on Oct. 12, 2017, that the city would take steps to reacquire the building. According to published reports, the Mayor said he'd work to "right the wrongs of the past."
It's not known where Mayor Adams may stand on the issue.
Meanwhile, other local elected officials made their feelings known...
Tonight at 6:30, CB3's Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee will receive an update from the Charas Steering Committee. The public may attend via Zoom at this
link. (This is the fourth item on the agenda.)