Ravenswood Community Center To Get $600K Bathroom Upgrades

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — The Ravenswood Community Center is getting newly-renovated bathrooms, thanks to City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer.

The western Queens representative tacked the $600,000 renovation on to his participatory budget, awarding just over $2 million to six projects across Astoria, Long Island City, Woodside and Sunnyside.

Van Bramer named the Ravenswood project a "bonus winner" in the participatory budget because the community center desperately needed new bathrooms, a spokesman said. The public housing complex has an estimated population of 4,382, according to the city's housing authority.

This year's winning project was a set of technology upgrades at P.S. 112Q, P.S. 150Q, P.S. 166Q, and The Academy of American Studies. Five local public library branches will also get upgraded technology.

P.S. 150Q will get $200,000 for a hydroponics science lab where students will grow food and learn about nutrition and sustainability.

See the full list of winners in Van Bramer's participatory budget:

• Laptop carts, computers, projectors and interactive boards for P.S. 112Q, P.S. 150Q, P.S. 166Q, and The Academy of American Studies: $400,000, 3484 votes
• Queens Public Library’s branches at Woodside, Broadway, LIC, Sunnyside, and Court Square will each receive $90,000 for technology upgrades: $450,000, 2278 votes
• P.S. 150Q hydroponics science lab where 1000+ students will grow food and learn hands-on about nutrition, land use, and sustainability: $200,000, 2022 votes
• P.S. 112Q bathroom renovations: $200,000, 1973 votes
• Additional bus time countdown clocks: $200,000, 1561 votes

Participatory budgeting lets locals decide how their City Council representative should spend funds in their neighborhoods. For more information, visit the City Council website.