The highly anticipated preschool in New York City's Upper East Side is finally set to open, after months of mystery and frustration for parents. The city-run site, located at 403 E. 65th Street, was initially scheduled to welcome pre-K and 3-K students in fall 2024, but it had been sitting empty, angering parents. The former parking garage will now open to more than 130 pupils in September, according to Mayor Zohran Mamdani's announcement. This announcement comes after an investigation revealed the city's plans for the site had been quietly shelved by the Department of Education (DOE), despite the growing demand for more classroom seats in the posh neighborhood. The massive early childhood education center, leased by the city from a private landlord, was set to welcome tots in fall 2024 under then-Mayor Eric Adams. However, the DOE had told The Post just last month that no final decisions had been made on how the building would be utilized. The site, which is 30,000 square feet, was readied over the last few weeks, and the center will be run by the district, avoiding the need for a procurement process. The opening of the center has been a long time coming, according to City Council speaker and longtime Upper East Side rep Julie Menin, who noted that 853 early childcare centers have closed in recent years while demand has skyrocketed. The center will serve as the first standalone site of its kind in the zip code, doubling pre-K capacity (with 72 seats) and quadrupling 3-K capacity (with 60 seats). The new center is expected to address the need for affordable education in the neighborhood, as stated by Manhattan Community Board 8 chairperson Valerie Mason, who emphasized the importance of economic diversity and ensuring that people can raise families on the Upper East Side. The mayoral administration has slammed Adams for the stalling, pointing out that the site was completed in July 2025 and remained unused under the prior administration despite community need. The new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has committed to fixing 3-K for families and expanding 3-K capacity by partnering with community-based and home-based child care providers. The city is also expected to open 2,000 2-K seats this fall, marking the first time the program will be offered in the Big Apple.
