Overview
- A New York Post report Monday put the five-year rent and utility tab at $99.3 million for 28 leased preschool buildings that have largely never opened.
- The Department of Education said it is reviewing each vacant site for community need and readiness, and six locations are expected to open this fall, according to the coverage.
- Former Mayor Bill de Blasio said the empty seats followed a drop in parent outreach under his successor, while Mayor Eric Adams said he inherited thousands of unused slots and focused on stabilizing providers and boosting enrollment.
- The empty facilities stem from de Blasio’s 3-K expansion, which earmarked $400 million to build or renovate space for about 3,800 seats across 28 locations and led to dozens of fast-tracked projects that did not match demand in some areas.
- One unopened site on Union Turnpike in Queens has cost about $10.8 million, and residents and a former education official said the location lacked demand as many nearby families choose religious schools.