Future
In 1997 our tenancy issues with the City of New York were favorably resolved and presented ABC No Rio a tremendous opportunity. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) offered to sell us our building at 156 Rivington Street for one dollar if we raise the money to rehabilitate the building and dedicate it to community use.
Envisioned for the site is a multi-use community and arts center with photo darkroom, silk-screen printshop, zine library, computer center, expanded space for art, music, performance, educational and community activities, and meeting and office space for ABC No Rio and other organizations.
In the summer of 2003 we met with HPD officials to discuss our plans. We proposed breaking our project into phases, and they added that they would be willing to begin the city review process before we had all the money in place. The review process (ULURP - Uniform Land Use Review Process) concluded in December 2005. On June 29, 2006 we acquired title to the property on Rivington Street.
Information about our new building is at http://www.abcnorio.org/newbuilding.php
The battle to secure ABC No Rio has been waged through Do-It-Yourself volunteerism, art and activism, without giving-in or selling-out to corporate sponsors.
Our 'culture of opposition' goes back almost twenty-five years to our founding.
We need your help to continue this tradition for another twenty-five.
