Developer Behind P.S. 64 Urges City To Buy Boys' Club Building

EAST VILLAGE, NY — The developer behind a school building that has sat vacant on East Ninth Street for two decades wants the city to consider purchasing the Boys' Club of New York's nearby clubhouse instead of trying to reacquire the five-story school house that is mired in controversy, the building's owner told Patch.

Developer Gregg Singer has sought to transform the former P.S. 64 building at 605 East Ninth Street into college dormitories, but neighborhood groups and elected officials have railed again the project and insist the building be converted into a community center instead. Mayor Bill De Blasio stoked those hopes last October when, shortly before the mayoral election, he announced that the city wants to reclaim the building.

Now that the Boys' Club of New York is selling their 287 East Tenth Street building — two blocks from the old P.S. 64 site — Singer hopes the city will explore the building as an alternative, which includes a swimming pool, two gymnasiums and a rooftop space.

"It’s next to Tompkins Square Park, it’s a couple of blocks from this property, it’s in good condition, its got a pool, basketball court, music rooms, art rooms — it’s crazy. So it’s ready to go," said Gregg Singer, on a recent tour of the gutted former P.S. 64. "We've put about $65 million hard and soft costs to renovate this property. There, it's already in existence so if they really do need a community center, there you go, it's right in your lap."

An opponent of Singer's plans for the building called the suggestion a "ridiculous red herring."

“It’s sort of a ludicrous idea,” said Andrew Berman, the executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. “The connection that this community feels to the community center is very strong and it has remained strong for decades and the community’s resolve to get this building back [will not be] diverted."

Before Singer acquired the classic school building, it housed a community center. Activists vehemently opposed the city's plans to sell the site at the time, and even unleashed thousands of crickets into the 1998 auction as an eleventh hour effort to halt the sale. But the auction continued and Singer acquired the parcel for $3.15 million. Come July 20, the building has been in Singer's possession for exactly 20 years.

Singer has faced an uphill battle to develop the property and his plans to construct a 535-bed dorm with amenities including outdoor gardens, a gym and a health center are on hold because of a Department of Building's issued stop work order.

In 2013, the city gave Singer the green light for an agreement with a prospective tenant, but in 2015 the building's department concluded that the plan violated what is commonly referred to as the city's "Dorm Rule" and slapped the property with a stop work order that remains in place. Last year, Singer applied twice to lease space to another potential tenant, but those too were rejected over concerns that the building may not be used as a dormitory, explained a city spokesman.

“We denied the developer’s application twice last year because it failed to submit sufficient proof that the building would be used as a student dormitory. We stand by our decision," said Andrew Rudansky, with the Department of Buildings.

Critics worry that Singer seeks to undermine the property's deed restriction, but a student dormitory does count as one of the building's potential community uses mandated by the restriction. In January, Singer filed a lawsuit against the city that argues it is blocking his legal right to build on the lot.

Singer says he has not heard from the city about reacquiring the property, through eminent domain or otherwise, since the Mayor's announcement in October.

The eight months of silence are unacceptable, said a spokesman for Singer.

“I think the position now is — whatever your inclination is, if you think it should go to the community or Singer’s plans — [that] the city’s got to s--t or get off the pot," said Richard Lipsky.

“If you’re serious, you need to develop a plan to buy it back and build on it. How much is that going to cost? Has the city [surveyed] that out yet now that the mayor has committed, rhetorically, to getting the building back? But if not we’re looking at a 20 year obstruction of Singer’s property rights."

The Mayor's office did not return a request for comment and a spokesman for Councilwoman Carlina Rivera's office declined to comment on the issue, citing ongoing litigation, but did express a commitment to work with locals and the Boys' Club of New York to ensue that whomever purchases the East Tenth Street building includes a community use. A spokeswoman for the Boys' Club says the organization "welcomes all buyers" and would be "thrilled for the clubhouse to continue to be used by the community."

Many locals just hope to see the former P.S. 64 building revitalized after two decades of sitting dormant — regardless of if the city looks into acquiring the Boys's Club building.

"We need something that benefits the community there. It has been empty for too long," said Juan Cruz, 69, a retired cook and longtime East Village resident, looking up at the building from a bench in Tompkins Square Park. "Whatever happens, we need to move forward."

Photos courtesy of Caroline Spivack/Patch