QUEENS — A former Catholic school building in Southeast Queens is answering a second calling - as a school to relieve overcrowding in the neighborhood.
The building, which used to house St. Pascal Baylon School, on 112th Avenue, near 198th Street, in St. Albans, will be converted into P.S. 892 at a cost of $19 million.
The school will relieve overcrowding in Southeast Queens schools, said Councilman Leroy Comrie, who, along with the local community advocated for the renovation of the church.
Once the renovation is complete, the building will be equipped with wireless Internet and interactive white boards, according to Comrie.
It will also have a gymnasium, science and art resource room, music suite, library, cafeteria and kitchen as well as a playground outside.
The school, which will have 20 classrooms and serve students from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade, will be completed by 2015, according to the Department of Education.
“The new school will be a major help to our community,” said Comrie. “Once P.S. 892 opens, it will help relieve the overcrowding currently taking place at P.S. 118 and P.S. 134, while helping to ensure our youth have the resources to learn and be successful in the future.”
The building was most recently being used by the Police Athletic League (PAL). The PAL, Comrie said, provided many services for youth in the community. After it closed a few years ago, residents were concerned about the resources available to young people in the community, Comrie said.
“We’re working as hard as we can to work with and deliver for this community – and the new school reflects our efforts," said Devon Puglia, a DOE spokesman. "Families will be well served by this new option.”
