The red tape that has prevented the contractual obligation of the owners of P.S. 186 to restore the historic school building has once again stopped progress in the now 24 year effort to save the school. After the Landmarks and Historic Preservation Committee along with a full room of concerned citizens voted to seek landmark designation for P.S. 186 earlier in the past week, the Community Board 9 Executive Board reviewed the resolution last Thursday and voted it down by 1 member. Another resolution that the Arts and Culture Committee voted on was to start the procedure to remove ownership of the school from the Boys and Girls Club. The CB9 execs seemed only slightly more convinced on this one and voted to table the resolution by one vote.The top image is that of a proposal from 2005 which was a financially feasible option to restore P.S. 186 and have condo units on top. Even though CB9 has stated that such a structure is most in line with the original government contract to develop the property, M.L. Wilson's Boys and Girls Club apparently went for the highest bidders who now want to tear down the entire building for a block heavy high rise. Next up will be Tuesday's zoning meeting (Jan 19, 6:30pm, 630 Riverside Drive @140 Street) in which the CB9 Land Use Committee will decide if West 145th Street will get the zoning needed to start any of the residential options proposed. Read more about the P.S. 186 in our past post: LINK. Lower photo by Ulysses.
I don't mean to sound jaded, but can they just do SOMETHING with that place, instead of planning and meeting about it. Sheesh, it's about time!
ReplyDeleteThe top sketch looks better than 99% of condo developments out there.
ReplyDeleteI have been at many community board meetings and I think your statement in regard to the voting procedure is wrong. Resolutions always go to the full board for vote, and I am sure this will still be done.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the building can no longer be saved as part of an economically viable project. No developer, city agency, or chartable organization has the money to spend on this type of building and then turn in into housing or offices for charities.
ReplyDeleteThe building site needs to be taken from M. L. Wilson and put out for auction. The failure of the city, and especially Robert Jackson's office, to take the lead on this issue is terrible.
John Dooley
Twenty years later and the "Community Board" causes another delay. This whole deal sounds like "insider trading" from start to finish. The community's wishes are tabled by the board. How does that happen?
ReplyDeleteThis building can be saved and the "Club" should be charged with restoring it to the shape it was in when they "purchased" it. Never have seen such a slip-shod "document" as the Sales Agreement. Who set the price, who did not follow up on promises made? Shame! Let's beautify Hamilton Heights as it was and not go for the almighty dollar.
The full board, all execs and the sub committees are meeting on Thursday and the public can have their final say in the matter.
ReplyDeleteThere are tax subsidies, government bonds and even public donations that make this sort of project happen. Will they be making a killing in profits? Probably not as much as what most developer would like to make. At the end of the day, profits were not the primary focus of building this space. Based on information that has been handed out at the recent community board meetings, there have been proposals that fit the price range needed to keep the facade and have condos in place.
ReplyDelete