NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS MENCHACA | 38th District Dear District 15 Families: Earlier today the Department of Education announced that seven new pre-k classrooms at the former Bishop Ford High School would immediately provide over 100 seats to school district 15 families. After working closely with the Mayor’s Office, the Dept. of Education, and Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, I am proud […]
Education
BASIS School to open in Red Hook this fall, by George Fiala
The BASIS Independent School received permission to run a Red Hook School at a March 25 hearing of the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA). The school, which will be located at 556 Columbia Street, is located in an IBZ manufacturing zone, and needed the approval to begin construction. They immediately announced their opening this fall, despite the fact that […]
BASIS Independent School’s for-profit strategy, by George Fiala
The initial controversy surrounding the BASIS Independent School stemmed from their under-the-radar approach in entering our community. While they assured a Community Board 6 (CB6) committee that they had done sufficient groundwork, it turned out that very few in the community had any idea of their plans, nor anything about them. For this reason, their initial application for approval was […]
Update on BASIS Independent School in Red Hook, by George Fiala
Since we published our last issue, we have learned a few things about the effort to build an elite private school close to the Red Hook Houses. The owner of the land, who is also a general contractor (his for-rent sign on the lot last summer did say ‘build to suit.’ is Humberto (Herbie) Lopes. Mr. Lopes is a large […]
Alex House Project helps young moms, by Angela Johnson-Archer
Raising children is a complex juggling act that requires parents to act as nurturers, providers and disciplinarians. For many teen and young adult mothers, the difficulty of moving between so many complex roles is exacerbated by limited access to education and difficulty entering a competitive job market. Eight years ago, Samora Coles wanted to help the young mothers she encountered […]
CB 6 whacks BASIS School, by George Fiala
At its December General Board meeting, Community Board 6 (CB 6) did something unusual. They voted against the recommendation of one of its committees. Last month at a Miccio Center hearing, the Land Use Committee heard an application from the BASIS Independent School for permission to construct a school in a district zoned for manufacturing. The lot, on Columbia and […]
Editorial – Our thoughts on a Red Hook for the rich and famous
Community disasters can be natural or man-made. Last year’s hurricane Sandy was of the natural kind, and we are still dealing with its after-effects. Now, the first new construction in the vicinity of the Red Hook Houses has the potential to be a man-made disaster. With little notice, a group from Arizona is planning to build a fancy private school […]
Elite private school to be built near Red Hook Houses, by George Fiala
A private K-12 school catering to parents who can afford $23,500 annual tuition is about to receive a variance allowing it to be constructed in Red Hook. It will be built on what is now a truck parking lot at 556 Columbia Street. That location is across from Red Hook Park, close to IKEA and about two blocks from the […]