News and Press Releases

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 8, 2023

CONTACT: publicaffairs@culture.nyc.gov

 

NYC DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS ANNOUNCES $2 MILLION FOR THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN’S STATE-OF-THE-ART, “NET-POSITIVE ENERGY” SITE OPERATIONS CENTER, AND NEW CAPITAL SUPPORT FOR CULTURAL GROUPS ACROSS THE BRONX

 

In addition to NYBG, the Bronx County Historical Society, Bronx Museum, The Point, Pregones / PRTT Traveling Theater, Wave Hill, and the Bronx Zoo also received new capital support in the City’s Fiscal Year 24 Adopted Budget

 

Investments Are Part of $222.8 Million in Capital Funding from the Mayor, City Council, and Borough Presidents for Over 75 Cultural Groups Across the City

 

Download renderings of NYBG’s Site Operations Center and photos from today’s announcement here.

 

Bronx, NY – Today, NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo joined community and cultural leaders from across the Bronx to announce new capital funding for cultural capital projects across the borough, including $2 million in new funding for The New York Botanical Garden’s (NYBG) state-of-the-art Site Operations Center, which will be among the first “net-positive energy” facilities in the Bronx when it’s complete. With this allocation, the City has contributed over $15 million to the NYBG project to date. As part of an ongoing five borough tour, Commissioner Cumbo also highlighted critical capital investments for cultural groups across the Bronx, including funding for projects at the Bronx County Historical Society, Bronx Museum, The Point, Pregones / PRTT Traveling Theater, Wave Hill, and the Bronx Zoo. These awards are part of Mayor Adams’ $117 million investment for FY 2024 in cultural capital projects across all five boroughs.

“Art and culture are vital for the wellbeing of our communities, and this administration is committed to supporting the arts throughout our city,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “With this new capital funding for the New York Botanical Garden and cultural organizations across the Bronx, we’re investing in the longevity of these institutions, ensuring that they provide world-class cultural programming, economic opportunities, community gathering spaces, educational centers, and creative hubs for generations to come.”

“The Bronx is home to some of the most remarkable cultural organizations in the world, and we’re honored to invest in their work and their facilities thanks to Mayor Adams’ strong commitment to supporting this vital part of our city's social and economic fabric,” said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “By investing in incredible capital projects like The New York Botanical Garden’s Site Operations Center and so many more, we are investing in the assets that make our city such a vibrant, extraordinary place to live.”

“The Bronx is home to vibrant arts and cultural institutions that are critical to the success of our city,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “Organizations like the New York Botanical Garden, Bronx Zoo, Bronx Museum, and many others provide cultural and educational programming for residents and visitors alike. The Council is proud to invest funding to support beloved institutions and ensure that they will benefit all New Yorkers for generations to come.”

 

The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) will completely rebuild its outdated operations yard into a 21st century Site Operations Center. The City of New York is the lead funder for this innovative and sustainable project, which also meets the daily work needs of the Garden's core DC37 workforce—the building service employees, engineers, carpenters, and administrative staff who maintain NYBG as an open, accessible, and safe sanctuary for the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and their families who visit NYBG each year. The operations center is also designed to be energy net positive; feature innovative building techniques such as mass timber construction, geothermal wells, and a solar photovoltaic system; targets LEED Platinum certification; and will likely be one of the most sustainable public buildings yet constructed with City funding.

“Our cultural institutions highlight the very best of the Bronx and highlight the rich beauty and diversity of our great borough,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Today’s announcement ensures our cultural gems such as the New York Botanical Garden receive the necessary funding to upgrade their facilities with state-of-the-art equipment and demonstrates Mayor Adams’ commitment to equitably support arts and culture throughout our city. Thank you to Mayor Eric Adams, Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, the New York City Council, advocates, and everyone else who was involved in making this announcement possible. When our cultural groups are supported, our residents, visitors, youth, and families win.”

“We want to thank Mayor Adams and Commissioner Cumbo for recognizing the value our cultural anchors provide to the people of the Bronx and all of our visitors,” said Jennifer Bernstein, Chief Executive Officer and The William C. Steere Sr. President, The New York Botanical Garden. “The staff and Board of NYBG are passionate about making the Botanical Garden’s National Historic Landmark campus a welcoming, sustainable, and accessible place for the public to connect to the natural world. The City’s leadership investment in the Garden’s Site Operations Center and projects throughout the Bronx demonstrate the Mayor and his team recognize the unmatched power of cultural organizations as drivers of economic strength and social vibrancy.”

The existing site covers approximately three acres and has three buildings where staff are currently assigned. While safe and functional, the current structures are very old and not optimal for the broad range of work needed to run a vibrant and accessible cultural institution that has a growing visitation. The new, highly efficient net-positive energy (NPE) building is in the final stages of design and features the following elements: a large general work area; a workshop for specific trades; a multi-purpose room to be used as a meeting room, a lunch room with kitchenette, and a workforce training room; an all-gender locker room with individual changing rooms, toilet rooms, and shower rooms; offices; a conference room; and a vehicle storage/vehicle repair shop.

“The New York Botanic Garden is one of the city’s most treasured gems,” said New York City Council Member Chi Ossé, Chair of the Committee Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations. “It is one the best destinations for public funds, and I’m thrilled to see those funds being invested into a project that will have such positive cultural, social, and environmental impacts for generations to come.”

“These capital funds for Bronx-Based cultural organizations will ensure the longevity and sustainability of our vital institutions,” said Council Member Eric Dinowitz. “Meaningful investments create lasting impact through job creation and stronger communities, and empower cultural organizations to serve the public better. Thank you to Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo for joining the Council to invest and recognize the measurable benefits of our arts and cultural spaces in The Bronx.”

"Cultural organizations are the heart of our borough and are showcases of what makes the Bronx so special. These institutions are how we tell our stories, preserve our history, and keep our cultures alive. Thank you to the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs for prioritizing the important cultural institutions that born and raised New Yorkers and tourists have equally loved and cherished," said Council Member Amanda Farías.

The project’s total cost is $25 million, with lead support from New York City and generous support from private funders, the State of New York, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Once started, the project will take 18 months to complete.

In the Fiscal Year 2024 budget adopted this year, the City contributed a total of $222.8 million to nearly 80 cultural capital projects across the five boroughs, including $117 million from the Mayor, $79.3 million from the City Council, and $26.5 million from the five borough presidents. These investments in new construction, renovations, equipment purchases, and more will help ensure that NYC will continue to have world-class cultural facilities that are open and accessible to all.

“The Bronx Museum, its staff and Board are grateful to Mayor Eric Adams, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Council Member Althea Stevens and Commissioner Laurie Cumbo for their steadfast support of our cultural jewel in The Bronx,” said Klaudio Rodriguez, Executive Director, The Bronx Museum. “Their capital funding will be a crucial piece of the long-awaited renovation of our South Wing Atrium, which will add new programming areas and enhanced accessibility. Through their leadership and vision, The Bronx Museum will further amplify its ability to educate, engage and provide a critical community gathering space, while bringing a world class art facility to The Bronx and wider New York City. We are truly grateful and excited for our next chapter.”

"We are thrilled to see the arts front and center in the City’s Capital Budget. Investments in our cultural facilities generate sustained economic activity, build pathways for creative careers, and enhance participation and belonging for residents and visitors alike. The Bronx continues to flourish and Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater continues to make big impacts. We have a new vision for our professional home and company headquarters on Walton Avenue at 149th Street, and we are proud to again partner with the NYC Mayor, the Bronx Borough President, and the City Council to make it happen," said Arnaldo J. Lopez, Managing Director of Pregones / Puerto Rican Traveling Theater.

"We are especially grateful to New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Commissioner Laurie Cumbo for championing expanded accessibility at Wave Hill," said Wave Hill President and Executive Director Ray Oladapo-Johnson. "These new funds are earmarked for creating an elevated walkway that will provide a more accessible and intuitive route to a part of the garden previously unreachable by wheelchair and stroller users and others with limited mobility. The new walkway is a keystone project in Wave Hill's comprehensive 2018 site plan, which identified capital improvement needs and solutions across the property. We couldn't be more thrilled about this vote of confidence in the Bronx and the need for access to all that this terrific borough has to offer."

“The Bronx County Historical Society warmly thanks Mayor Eric Adams, Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson for prioritizing the capital needs of Bronx culture institutions in this year's budget," said The Bronx County Historical Society Director Dr. Steven Payne. "Thank you for investing in the rich heritage of The Bronx at a time when we mark the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop—one of many significant cultural contributions of our borough. The Bronx County Historical Society is thrilled to expand the Museum of Bronx History, situated in a nearly 275-year-old national landmark historic house. Such homes present unique challenges for accessibility, and this investment will allow us to make our exhibits and programming on Bronx history more accessible and welcoming to all."

“The 120 year old Monkey House building at the Bronx Zoo will be reimagined as the World of Primates, an interactive exhibit where visitors will encounter many different species of primates, their habitats, and our inspiring primate conservation stories from around the world. We thank Mayor Adams, Commissioner Cumbo and the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the City Council for their capital investments to ensure the Bronx Zoo continues to educate, engage, and inspire over two million visitors a year, including hundreds of thousands of school children, teachers and families throughout New York City who visit annually,” said John F. Calvelli, WCS Executive Vice President of Public Affairs.

 

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About NYC Department of Cultural Affairs

The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated to supporting and strengthening New York City’s vibrant cultural life. DCLA works to promote and advocate for quality arts programming and to articulate the contribution made by the cultural community to the City’s vitality. The Department represents and serves non-profit cultural organizations involved in the visual, literary, and performing arts; public-oriented science and humanities institutions including zoos, botanical gardens, and historic and preservation societies; and creative artists at all skill levels who live and work within the City’s five boroughs. DCLA also provides donated materials for arts programs offered by the public schools and cultural and social service groups, and commissions permanent works of public art at City-funded construction projects throughout the five boroughs. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/culture.