Imagine this: New York City, a place where families are desperate for affordable preschool options, has spent millions on building and leasing spaces for early childhood education—only to leave them empty. It’s a shocking reality that has parents fuming and experts scratching their heads. But here’s where it gets even more baffling: some of these so-called “phantom” schools were fully constructed, complete with official signage, yet they remain unused while waitlists for nearby programs stretch into the hundreds. And this is the part most people miss—the city may not have even been aware some of these sites existed until recently.
According to records obtained by The Post, over 25 of the 47 early childhood education centers planned under former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration are still unlisted on the official NYC MySchools directory. These aren’t just empty promises—they’re empty buildings, some with costly construction contracts, rent payments to private owners, and even completed renovations. Take, for example, a converted Brooklyn warehouse on the Columbia Street waterfront. Families in the area are scrambling to secure spots for their kids, with waitlists topping 100 students, while this fully renovated site sits idle.
“There’s not a lot of seats to go around,” said Zach Hetrick, a Brooklyn parent who lives near the Columbia Street site. Without access to this center, Hetrick and his daughter face a daily trek to a city-run program over a mile away—either on foot or via a 15-minute bus ride, assuming it arrives on time. The irony? This 3K location was slated for completion in 2023 and underwent over $1 million in construction work in 2024, with a total estimated cost of $18 million. Yet, the Department of Education (DOE) told The Post it’s still being “evaluated for potential use.”
“If we’re paying for the school to be built and it already exists, it’d be great to be using that school,” Hetrick added. “Ultimately, I think we should be using the resources we’re already paying for.”
This isn’t an isolated incident. A Post investigation revealed a similar story on the Upper East Side, where a city-run site set to open in 2024 sat empty, sparking outrage among parents. It took public pressure and media attention for Mayor Zohran Mamdani to finally open the site just three weeks later. City Council Speaker Julie Menin, a longtime advocate for the area, called the opening “long overdue,” pointing out that 853 early childcare centers have closed in recent years while demand for free programs has skyrocketed. Private childcare, after all, can cost parents tens of thousands of dollars annually—a burden many simply can’t afford.
“I can’t tell you the number of parents that have said to us, ‘If we do not get affordable childcare, we’re going to leave the city,’” Menin said during the Upper East Side preschool opening. “At the end of the day, this is what we need to do citywide—open more childcare facilities and ensure every parent who needs a 3K or Pre-K slot gets one.”
The city spent a staggering $787 million from FY2020 to FY2024 on early education initiatives, according to the DOE’s five-year capital plan report. Yet, nearly two dozen 3K expansion sites were built but left vacant for years after their completion dates. Here’s the controversial part: Why were these sites abandoned in the first place? And why is it taking so long to get them up and running now?
At a City Council education committee hearing last year, DOE early childhood education rep Jeff Klein admitted, “I believe there’s about 21 of those sitting vacant.” He added that the city is working with the Department of Buildings and the health department to ensure these sites meet current codes. But for North Brooklyn councilman Lincoln Restler, the situation is infuriating. “We have a need for seats in our community, and we’re looking at mothballed sites in private buildings that we’ve poured money into,” he said. “That’s unacceptable.”
Take the planned 3K site at 18-31 131st St. in College Point, Queens. This former warehouse, fully renovated with a brand-new outdoor play area, was supposed to open in 2022. Yet, it remains empty. Similarly, a three-floor site at 1010 Third Ave. on the Upper East Side, where the DOE spent roughly $200,000 on lighting work, is still awaiting a decision on its future.
But here’s where it gets even more controversial: Some of these planned sites have been repurposed entirely. A proposed 3K center in Long Island City is now listed as the temporary site for a new elementary school. Another in Staten Island has become a DOE Family Welcome Center. Is this a smart use of resources, or a missed opportunity for early childhood education?
Council Member Gale Brewer revealed that the city has been paying $24,000 a month in rent for a site in her district that sat vacant for years—totaling an estimated $22 million. Even more shocking? The DOE allegedly had no idea this site existed until Brewer notified them. “It was the de Blasio administration that planned all of these childcare centers,” she said, “but I was the one who told the Adams administration.”
While some progress is being made—like the recent opening of a floor at the 1972 Broadway site on the Upper West Side for special needs preschool students—many questions remain. City Hall rep Jenna Lyle assured The Post that the new administration is evaluating these phantom sites, but will it be enough? “For years, early childhood programs were slashed and sidelined by the prior administration,” Lyle said. “That is changing under this administration. But is it happening fast enough for families in need?
What do you think? Is the city doing enough to address this crisis, or is this a systemic failure that demands more urgent action? Let us know in the comments.
