Two New Rochelle units of the Boys & Girls Club face separate crises as a result of issues with water.

The Mascaro unit, at 79 7th Street, and the Remington unit, currently under construction on Prince Street, each have distinct backstories that have landed both clubs into states of  insecurity that could be remedied if only the city of New Rochelle would support them.

Almost two years ago, the city approved the Mascaro unit’s request for repairs of their roof, and yet, to this day, the roof has not been fixed.  In late 2022, at the urging of councilperson Martha Lopez, then city manager Chuck Strome and then corporation counsel and deputy city manager Kathleen Gill did a significant walkthrough with Boys & Girls Club CEO Becky Mazzanobile and promised $1,000,000 in assistance for structural repairs.  But then nothing happened. 

In January of 2023, the city council’s agenda included a public hearing regarding funding from the Empire State Development Corporation Restore N.Y. Initiative Grant, ostensibly for infrastructure projects at the Mascaro Boys & Girls Club.  This pledged funding was to cover an upgrade in security,  needed elevator repairs, and replacement of the club’s 30+year old roof.  However, at 3:30 pm on January 10, 2023, Mayor Bramson withdrew that public hearing “for procedural purposes,” and it has not been rescheduled.   

Below is an excerpt from the Minutes Of The City Council , Tuesday January 10,2023. (page 2 item 2)

2. RESTORE NY COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE FUNDING ROUND 7 MASCARO BOYS & GIRLS CLUB – Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute agreements relative to the Empire State Development Corporation Restore NY Initiative Grant Round 7 for the Mascaro Boys & Girls Club. (Intro. 12/12/22; Public Hearing 1/10/23).
   Mayor Bramson stated that the Public Hearing is withdrawn for procedural purposes. The matter will be included on City Council’s Agenda once the procedural issues are resolved.
   RESULT: WITHDRAWN

The Mascaro unit remains in desperate need of structural repairs. The roof of this unit leaks badly with every substantial rain. The heavy rains of April 30th once again caused flooding in the gym and several other rooms in this very active facility. The Boys & Girls Club CEO took pictures of the most recent flooding and emailed them to Councilperson Martha Lopez and the leadership at city hall. This email communicated that the Mascaro roof was in desperate need of repair and that they needed to get this project started now. Although the city building department responded quickly and  sent someone to survey the damage, weeks have gone by, and an RFP to start the work has not been issued. 

The “new” Remington unit, scheduled to open by the end of 2023, has also suffered as a result of the heavy rains in late April . Pictures have been taken of the almost 12 inches of water that had accumulated on their lower level. No one who knows the water history of the area was surprised that the “new” Remington had  flooded–the neighborhood is legendary for flooding. In addition to many of the single family homes, all of the large apartment buildings and all of the churches within a quarter-mile of Prince Street have flooded repeatedly. 

The old maps of this area evidence a high water table that is full of natural water features, and the existing water drainage system has not been properly designed or maintained. The catch basins along the higher altitude of Webster Avenue are too shallow for heavy rainfall, so the water naturally flows to  the lower elevations at and near  the intersections of Lincoln Avenue, Prince Street, Guion Place and the appropriately named Brook Street. 

When the culverts (the pipes that are part of the catch basin) near Guion Place were found to be damaged some years ago and the problem was reported to the city, the city responded that nothing would be done until the water drainage study was completed. The study has now been completed, but improvements need to be designed and funding secured before any construction can begin.  Years may pass before any physical improvements are actually made.  In the meantime, the “new” Remington unit will anxiously await every forecast of substantial rain.

The Boys & Girls Club is an anchor institution in the city of New Rochelle, serving more than 300 children. A building failure at one of the units would be dramatic at any time.  If Mascaro had to be closed as the summer camp season is about to begin, it would be a catastrophe.  Where would all of those children go, and how difficult would it be for their families to find trustworthy and financially feasible alternatives?  As New Rochelle claims diversity and inclusion and being Ideally Yours, it’s difficult to understand why the city has failed to show up for its children.