NEW YORK—This year, the long-empty and historic C.B.J. Snyder school building at 605 East 9th Street is supposed to undergo a complete renovation to reopen as a university dorm the following year.
The landmarked building was built in 1904–1906 by master school architect Snyder, whose French Renaissance Revival style school building has been not only an aesthetic addition to the city’s neighborhood but also an innovation in fireproofing, circulation, and construction.
It is a building filled with memories for the residents of the Lower East Side, who to this day continue to rally to bring back its history—often to the impediment of the building owner.
The building had served as a community center and was the first public school to offer a free, open-air theater to local residents.
Since a private developer purchased the building in 1998, redevelopment plans were continually stalled as residents fought to bring back a community center.
Contested Sale
In 1998, Mayor Rudy Giuliani auctioned off the building—former P.S. 64—to private developer Gregg Singer for $3.15 million. Charas/El Bohio, a Puerto Rican community center, had been leasing the property at the time, and had done so since 1977 when the public school closed.
Unlike the other public buildings that were sold to not-for-profits for $1, this was sold to a private developer under an agreement that some space would be reserved for the community.
That caveat then fell by the wayside after the sale.
Community activists battled the sale for three years to no avail. Charas/El Bohio was evicted after the sale closed.
