Students to Present Ideas for Transforming Historic East New York LIRR Substation
Architecture students today will reveal their proposals for transforming the early 20th century building into a community facility.
The empty East New York LIRR substation in 2023. Photo by Susan De Vries
Locals see opportunity in the vacant hulk of an early 20th century substation in East New York and students from the Spitzer School of Architecture at City College will unveil their concepts for adaptive reuse at a presentation today. Community members and any interested in the future of the former LIRR Substation at 2 Snediker Avenue are invited to attend.
The red-brick building was completed in time for the July 1905 launch of electric train service on the Long Island Railroad and served as LIRR Substation No. 2. It was one of five substations constructed between 1904 and 1905 for the new service, including another in Brooklyn at 1020 Atlantic Avenue. The buildings held the machinery required to convert the power and operate the rail system.
Preserving East New York (PENY), the East New York Community Land Trust (ENYCLT), and other local organizations hosted a “heart-bombing” at the site in 2023 to draw attention to the potential of the vacant building. In March of this year, a workshop allowed community members to bring their ideas for the transformation of the long-shuttered structure into a community facility and chat with the architecture students.
The transformation of the station has been the focus of the City College architecture students this semester as part of the Advance Design Studio course. Working in collaboration with PENY and ENCLT they have been working in teams to develop proposals for the building and the adjacent city-owned vacant lot.
The results of their work will be unveiled today from 2 to 6 p.m. at the City College’s Spitzer School of Architecture 141 Convent Avenue in Manhattan. A panel, which will include some community members, will follow the presentations. Those interested in attending should rsvp to nbagchee@ccny.cuny.edu.
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