DDC and Cultural Affairs Celebrate Start of Renovations Project for Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center

On January 6, 2024, the Department of Design and Construction and the Department of Cultural Affairs announced the start of a new renovation project for the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center located at 107 Suffolk Street in the Lower East Side. 


Parks Dept and Elected Officials Celebrate Completed Renovations of Jamaica Playground

On September 27, 2023, the Parks Department joined Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., Assemblywoman Vivian Cooke, members of Queens Community Board 12, and students from P.S. 40 Samuel Huntington Elementary School to celebrate the completed renovation of Jamaica Playground in Jamaica, Queens. The playground is located on Brinkerhoff Avenue between 160th Street and Union Hall Street. 


Naples Playground in Staten Island Reopens After Renovations

NYC Parks spent $3.115 million in reconstructing the park’s basketball courts and play area. On June 1, 2023, NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue, Council Member David Carr, Principal Deanna Marco and students from P.S. 9 joined other community members to celebrate the reopening of Naples Playground in Concord, Staten Island. The park, which had been closed for renovations since April 2022, reopened in April 2023.


DDC Announces Reopening of Stuyvesant Cove Park Following Renovations and Resiliency Upgrades

On May 31, 2023, Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Thomas Foley,  Economic Development Corporation Executive Vice President Josh Kraus, elected officials, and community leaders celebrated the opening of the northern section of Stuyvesant Cove Park. The opened section of the park runs from East 20th Street to East 23rd Street along the East River; the remaining section of the park from East 18th Street to East 20th Street is expected to open this summer. 


City Announces Completion of Renovations of Nine Public Housing Developments

The project was possible through a conversion to a federally funded Project-Based Section 8 program. On May 20, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams joined U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Regional Administrator Alicka Ampry-Samuel, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Chair Greg Russ and NUCHA resident association leaders to announce the completion of renovations and restorations to nine NYCHA developments across Brooklyn.


DDC Announces Reopening of Steinway Library in Astoria After Renovations

On January 18, 2022, the Department of Design and Construction announced the reopening of the Steinway Library at 21-45 31st Street in Astoria. Steinway Library is one of the three original branches from 125 years ago that became the Long Island City Public Library system, later known as the Queens Borough Public Library. Prior to the pandemic, Steinway Library served almost 200,000 customers and circulated over 225,000 materials annually.