As we reported earlier, the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. today awarded $17 million in grants to downtown cultural and community groups. The post-9/11 recovery funds will help support all sorts of programs, including quite a few initiatives on the Lower East Side.
A few highlights… The Paul Taylor Dance Studio received $250,000 to create a black box studio in their new home on Grand Street. The Friends of Gulick Park collected another $900,000 from the LMDC, meaning they now have more than $3 million for a renovation of both the eastern and western portions of the park. And the Hester Street Collaborative got $1 million to continue refurbishing the Allen Street pedestrian malls.
Here’s a detailed look at the LES-centric recipients:
- Asian Americans for Equality: $300,000 for affordable housing advocacy programs
- Common Ground: $500,000 for safety upgrades at The Lee, the supportive housing facility at 133 Pitt Street.
- Educational Alliance: $300,000 for a program to prepare parents of Head Start students for college.
- Grand Street Settlement: $1 million to replace the elevator in their main building at 80 Pitt Street.
- Hamilton Madison House: Two separate grants totaling $450,000 for facility renovations and expansion of jobs center.
- Friends of Gulick Park: $900,000 to complete the reconstruction of the western end of the park.
- Hester Street Collaborative: $1 million for the renovation of a comfort station at Allen & Delancey streets.
- Gouverneur Healthcare Services: $820,000 for installation of a CAT Scan system.
- University Settlement: $250,000 for free programs at the Houston Street Center.
- ABC No Rio: $275,000 for reconstruction of building.
- Clemente Cultural Velez Cultural Center: $500,000 for interior design and planning.
- LES Tenement Museum: $400,000 for exhibit development.
- New Museum: $100,000 to hire a producer for the Festival of Ideas.
- Paul Taylor Dance Company: $250,000 for renovation of dance studio into a multi-purpose black box performance space at 551 Grand Street.
While the Lower Manhattan Development Corp., is winding down, it still has some money left to award. Local elected officials, including U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer and State senator Daniel Squadron, have urged the LMDC to use some of the money to refurbish Pier 42, at the end of Montgomery Street. While the city has plans to build a park and recreational area on the pier, there’s no money budgeted for the project.
Today, Squadron praised the LMDC for awarding the community grants. But, in a statement, he added, he would continue to “fight for the redevelopment funds necessary to compete the East River Waterfront park, including the redevelopment of Pier 42.”
oh my good, that sad little Gulick park no one goes to (and no one will go to) except some yuppies who live nearbye & see this as their means to increase their property values.. THIS gets $3million & pier 42 gets none? This is so sickly strange; how is that possible? Folks, anyone who lives in the area knows there’s just no comparison on the # of people who’d benefit on one vs. the other. Can anything be done to reconsider!?
And where’s the $ to finish fixing East River Park & specially redesign of ridiculous design that has all the garbage in water sitting for all to see near west of the little new bridges.
HELP! WHO”S IN CHARGE??
oh my good, that sad little Gulick park no one goes to (and no one will go to) except some yuppies who live nearbye & see this as their means to increase their property values.. THIS gets $3million & pier 42 gets none? This is so sickly strange; how is that possible? Folks, anyone who lives in the area knows there’s just no comparison on the # of people who’d benefit on one vs. the other. Can anything be done to reconsider!?
And where’s the $ to finish fixing East River Park & specially redesign of ridiculous design that has all the garbage in water sitting for all to see near west of the little new bridges.
HELP! WHO”S IN CHARGE??
Lots of families use the playground in Gulick Park – go any nice weather weekend and I think you’ll see that. The primary users are not yuppies anytime I’ve been there. The handball and basketball courts, despite their lousy condition, are also actively used by neighborhood kids. The area where benches, trees and tables used to be (by the handball courts) are not used b/c there is nothing there. When the park is made more inviting, I think more people will use it. Pier 42 is another worthwhile project – there is no reason why we on the LES should have to choose between one and the other – both should get restored. But it takes a lot of effort to make it happen – and, to answer your question – I think you are in charge if you take charge – and help organize to get Pier 42 restored.
Congrats to the many recipients, however in the context of these comments, I need to applaud David Bolotsky who has done a phenomenal job of organizing Friends of Gulick Park, lining up the resources and elected officials, and then getting the funding it needs. His energy and passion for this neglected park really is an example of what can be done if you focus on one piece of the community.