It’s safe to say a late afternoon trip to the Lower East Side Girls Club was the highlight of Senator Daniel Squadron’s day yesterday. He came with an impressive gift: $250,000 to help pay for the organization’s new building on Avenue D & 7th Street. That’s 11-year old Amani up there on the left, clutching a huge ceremonial version of the check. It just so happens it was also her birthday yesterday. We’re not sure whether she was more impressed with the $250,000 or the giant cupcake she and some of her friends got to consume just as soon as the photo op was over.
I chatted briefly after the event with Girls Club Executive Director Lyn Pentecost and Mary Spink, the board chair. Final preparations are being made for a the closing at the end of the month, in which they’ll formally take possession of the building site.
The 12 story, 90-thousand square foot complex will feature a culinary education center (including the Sweet Things Baking Company & Cafe), a farmers market center, a domed planetarium, a library, a health and wellness center, a green roof, an internet radio station and much more. The first four floors will be used by the Girls Club. There will be apartments on the upper levels.
Pentecost said all of the public and private money for the building’s exterior in in place. They’re still raising funds for the interior. The check from Squadron comes in the form of a capital funding grant. He said the money has already been allocated. There’s no chance the award would be jeopardized by the state’s budget shortfall.
