Bayside Preschool Sued By Church For $100K Of Back-Rent

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — A Bayside preschool could soon shutter, since it is illegally operating in a church building that it was kicked out of after failing to pay nearly $100,000 in rent, according to a new lawsuit.

The Bayside United Methodist Church, located at 38-20 Bell Boulevard, sued its tenant, Noah's Ark School of Progressive Learning, on Tuesday for allegedly failing to make required rent payments since January of last year — amounting to $95,774.58 worth of rent as of Sept.

The preschool was on a month-to-month rental contract with the church, but stopped paying its $5,000 monthly rent payment in Jan. of last year.

This Feb., after over a year of missed rent payments, the preschool paid the church back $9,225.41, which covered less than two-months worth of the back-rent that it owes.

Around that time, the church ended the preschools month-to-month rental agreement, giving the school 30 days to move out.

The preschool, however, did not move out, and continued to operate from the building — without paying rent — at least through Sept. of this year.

On Thursday Patch called Noah's Ark School of Progressive Learning, which is still listed online as being located at 38-20 Bell Boulevard. Someone answered the phone — suggesting that the school is still in operation — but refused to answer any questions about the lawsuit before hanging up.

The Bayside United Methodist Church did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.