New York City plans to shell out roughly $400 million total to renovate more than two dozen “ghost” preschool buildings that have been mysteriously sitting empty with no update from officials, The Post has learned.
Records show the city has already spent millions of taxpayer dollars on the 25-plus vacant sites, once designated to be built as pre-K or 3-K centers — though officials refused to reveal exactly how much has been poured into them so far.
The massive overall sum was earmarked to build out the 27 facilities, which were set to be completed between August 2020 and September 2025 as part of an expansion of the city’s free “3K for All” program under former Mayor Bill de Blasio.
But the buildings have remained empty to date — event as the city continues paying an unknown amount in rent to various private landlords who own the properties, The Post exclusively reported this week.
One of the planned preschools, in College Point, Queens, had the highest anticipated total price tag of more than $28 million, according too the Department of Education’s FY2020-24 capital plan report finalized last summer.
