Feb. 12, 2016 By Christian Murray
A 600-seat elementary school is going to be incorporated as part of the Hunters Point South development, according to the president of the School Construction Authority Lorraine Grillo.
The stand-alone school will be built on Parcel F, which is adjacent to Newtown Creek, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2020. The school will cost about $60 million to build.
Parcel F will still contain an apartment building. It will be located next to the school.
Grillo made the announcement at the Gantry Parent Association meeting Thursday night, which was attended by Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer and Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan.
The Gantry Parent Association was formed in October by residents who want to advocate for new schools and better resources with a united voice. The group’s meeting, which was held at the Irish Center at 10-40 Jackson Ave., was attended by more than 50 people.
Van Bramer told the attendees that there had been several positive developments since the group formed.
Van Bramer said that $225 million had been allocated by Mayor Bill de Blasio for the construction of four schools in the 26th Council district. He said three would be in Long Island City.
He said the first school will be built on parcel F, with the second site to be announced within two weeks. That site will also be an elementary school.
Van Bramer said that Grillo is close to cementing a deal that will help alleviate school overcrowding in the short term.
Grillo is in negotiations to lease space that would be used for pre-K and kindergarten in Long Island City. That space would be converted into classrooms.
The announcement would ease some of the anxieties for parents who are trying to get their children into kindergarten in the neighborhood.
Last year, there were 50 zoned children who were placed on a wait list for PS/IS 78 before two classes were added at the last minute.
Parents were told at the time that if a large number of children apply to kindergarten again for this year then truncation might be required, where 6th, 7th and 8th grade students would be phased out of the middle school.
The figures of how many children have applied for this year were not available at the meeting.
