ABC No Rio get approval from Department of Buildings for new space

ABC No Rio
the old ABC No Rio (photo via Kathleen Fox)

Legendary New York art space ABC No Rio had to abandon its longtime home and they’ve been planning to replace it with a new, energy-efficient building. It’s been taking a while, but it looks we’re one step closer to the new building. Bowery Boogie reports that The Department of Buildings approved the plans this month to construct it.

ABC No Rio director Steve Englander told Bowery Boogie: “After bidding out our job four times in six years in an over-heated construction market, we finally got a contractor able and willing to do the job within our available funding. We’re hopeful we might begin [construction] by end of year or early 2019. However, over the years I’ve grown wary of predicting a timeline.”

The new Paul A. Castrucci-designed, solar-equipped, four-story building is expected to have larger performance spaces, a green roof, a second-floor terrace, a zine library, computer lab, print shop, dark room, and kitchen.

In the meantime, ABC No Rio continues to present events “in exile” at other locations. Their zine library is currently being housed at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center, which is located across the street from ABC No Rio.

You can donate to the building fund at ABC No Rio’s website.

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