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MAJORITY LEADER VAN BRAMER & NYCHA RESIDENTS BREAK GROUND ON LONG AWAITED UPGRADES TO QUEENSBRIDGE BATHROOMS & AIR CONDITIONING
TODAY, Thursday, March 10th, Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer, NYCHA residents, and community members broke ground on long-awaited improvements to the Jacob Riis Senior Center at Queensbridge, the country’s largest public housing development.
The repairs come as a great relief for seniors at the Center, who have been complaining about the state of the building for years. The bathrooms constantly clog and haven’t been updated in over 20 years. The center is also in desperate need of air conditioning, as the heat becomes dangerous for seniors in the summer.
“The residents of Queensbridge have waited for these improvements for far too long,” said City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. “The Jacob Riis Center is a community hub, and the youth, seniors, and residents of Queensbridge deserve a facility that works. I’m proud to stand with Queensbridge residents and break ground on this project at long last.”
“I know I speak for our entire board, staff and all the participants we serve here at Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement, when I say I am extremely grateful to Councilmember Van Bramer for his tireless efforts to ensure that the project to equip the Queensbridge community center with air-conditioning and fully functioning bathrooms got off the ground,” said Chris Hanway, Executive Director of the Jacob Riis Settlement House. “Councilmember Van Bramer has long advocated on behalf of the NYCHA residents that Riis Settlement serves, and we look forward to having a new and improved community space that is inviting to all”
Majority Leader Van Bramer first secured funding for improvements in 2010, but NYCHA delayed beginning work on the project. This groundbreaking is just one of many efforts undertaken by Majority Leader Van Bramer to improve conditions for NYCHA residents. Other victories have included working with the Administration to secure $87 million in funds for roof replacements at Queensbridge and the nearly $6 million to restore the Queensbridge Seawall and park house.