School Site (Photo: QueensPost)
Feb. 12, 2011 By Christian Murray
The Department of Education’s plan to build a primary school on 42nd Street is likely to become a reality.
“The Dept. of Education is moving forward with the project,” Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer said last week, adding that the department “affirmatively likes the site.”
The public first learned about the project when the department announced in November that it was proposing to build a primary school at 45-46 42nd Street in Sunnyside. The aim, the department said at the time, was to alleviate school overcrowding at PS 199 (39-20 48th Ave.), which has been a sore point for local parents for some time.
The property, which runs from 42nd through to 43rd Street (btw. Queens Blvd and 47th Ave), is currently vacant land, and was once the site of the Sunnyside Jewish Center.
Two commercial property owners believe the site is in contract and have seen the department taking soil samples. The department did not respond to phone calls on the matter.
Van Bramer said there have been no discussions about the department purchasing residential property that is adjacent to the vacant site. “I don’t believe they are going to use eminent domain.”
