Panama City Trio Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Meth

 

Damarius M. Mimms, 31, of Panama City, Fla., was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. Cara Rene Frazier, 30, and Ashley Rich, 43, both of Panama City, Florida, were each sentenced to over six years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. The sentences were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, and this successful prosecution by my tenacious team of federal prosecutors, we have dismantled this trafficking operation and sent these drug peddlers to federal prison. This should serve as yet another strong warning to anyone selling drugs in my district that the only thing they have to look forward to is an extended stay behind federal bars. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Todd Blanche promised to deliver safe, drug-free streets for our citizens, and that is exactly what my office will ensure through continued aggressive prosecutions like this one.”

Court documents reflect that between January 1, 2024, and September 18, 2024, Frazier, Mimms, and Rich were responsible for distributing tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of methamphetamine in the Panama City Beach area. A joint law enforcement investigation was initiated after suspicious packages addressed to Frazier were identified by the United States Post Office. The investigation revealed that the co-defendants worked together to import significant quantities of methamphetamine from the Orlando area and then distributed it throughout the Panama City area.

“The defendants in this case took a chance trafficking narcotics through the mail, and will now spend a significant amount of time in federal prison,” said Bladismir Rojo, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division.  “The United States Postal Inspection Service will continue to work with its law enforcement partners in cases such as this, in order to prevent drugs from reaching the streets.”

The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Secretary Mullin Observes Deportation Flight Removing Dangerous Illegal Aliens to El Salvador

 

Among those deported are murderers, sexual assailants, and drunk drivers

United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin observed a deportation flight out of Alexandria, Louisiana that removed 100 illegal aliens back to El Salvador, including those convicted of such crimes as murder, sexual assault, and driving while intoxicated.

The deportation flight out of Alexandria, Louisiana, bound for El Salvador

Every illegal alien on the flight was from El Salvador.

“The mission continues, with mass deportations underway,” said Secretary Mullin.“This deportation flight back to El Salvador included some of the worst illegal aliens, including convicted murderers, sexual assailants, and drunk drivers. DHS is delivering on President Trump’s mandate from the American people to carry out mass deportations so that we can make America safe again. We will never apologize for deporting illegal aliens, because mass deportations save lives.”

Among the illegal aliens deported on the most recent flight are:

Carlos Ovidio Culgua-Alas, whose criminal history includes convictions for homicide and alien in possession of a firearm, as well as arrests for public intoxication and disorderly conduct in Texas.

Jose Balmory Ramirez Rodriguez, an MS-13 gang member whose criminal history includes convictions for first-degree manslaughter with intent to cause serious physical injury and third-degree assault in New York.

Jose Martinez Flores, whose criminal history includes convictions for indecency with child – sexual contact and TWO counts of driving while intoxicated in Texas.

Jose Angel Ramos-Gutierrez, whose criminal history includes convictions for driving under the influence and gross child neglect creating risk of serious injury or death in West Virginia and an arrest for possession of cocaine in Maryland.

Paulino Barahona, whose criminal history includes a conviction for aggravated assault on a police officer and an arrest for driving under the influence in West Virginia.

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Justice Department Announces Charges Involving 16 Aliens for Election Crimes

 

Today, the Justice Department announced charges involving 16 aliens in connection with illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration, and related election crimes across the country. The cases include voting by aliens in federal elections, false claims of U.S. citizenship to register or vote, and false statements on citizenship applications. 

Case details are as follows:

Middle District of Florida 

Two aliens were charged for illegally voting in a federal election.  

• Italian national Andrea Catanese, 60, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by federal indictment with voting by an alien, attempting to procure naturalization unlawfully, and making a false statement related to naturalization. Catanese allegedly voted in the 2024 general election, falsely stated he had never voted in a federal election on an Application for Naturalization, and then made the same false statement to an immigration official who was reviewing the application.

Italian national Andrea Catanese, 60, a lawful permanent resident

• Bahamian national Terrance Patrick Evans, 37, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by information with one count of voting by an alien. According to the information, Evans voted in the 2024 federal general election despite knowing that he was not a citizen of the United States.  

Bahamian national Terrance Patrick Evans, 37, a lawful permanent resident

Eastern District of Louisiana 

Three aliens were indicted for illegally voting in a federal election.

• Cuban national Pedro Pablo Ruiz, 68, a lawful permanent resident, has been indicted for illegal voting in a federal election. According to the indictment, Ruiz cast a ballot in the 2024 general election.

Cuban national Pedro Pablo Ruiz, 68, a lawful permanent resident

• Mexican national Zianya Yllaly Zamorano, 34, a lawful permanent resident has been indicted for illegal voting in an election. According to the indictment, Zamorano cast a ballot in the 2024 general election. 

Mexican national Zianya Yllaly Zamorano, 34, a lawful permanent resident

• Nicaraguan national Dudley Francisco Zeledon, 56, a lawful permanent resident has been charged in a two-count indictment for illegal voting in an election. According to the indictment, Zeldon cast a ballot in the 2024 primary and general elections. 

Nicaraguan national Dudley Francisco Zeledon, 56, a lawful permanent resident

Eastern District of Wisconsin 

North Macedonian national Sara Luma, 30, a lawful permanent resident has been charged with Unlawfully Voting as a Non-Citizen. Luma allegedly voted in the 2024 general election. The criminal complaint further alleges Luma registered to vote on the same day as the election and signed the Wisconsin Voter Registration Application form falsely certifying that she was a citizen of the United States. Luma was interviewed by a federal law enforcement agent and admitted to registering and voting on Nov. 5, 2024.

District of Minnesota 

Ten aliens have been charged in Minnesota for voter fraud.

• Liberian national Bhator Konah Bryant, 61, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote. She is alleged to have falsely claimed United States citizenship when registering to vote on Oct. 18, 2024. 

Liberian national Bhator Konah Bryant, 61, a lawful permanent resident

• Lithuanian national Edvile Vaidoto Edmunds, 59, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of voting by alien. She is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota on Nov. 8, 2022. 

Lithuanian national Edvile Vaidoto Edmunds, 59, a lawful permanent resident

• Ghanaian national Joshua Frederick Kofi Edzie, 63, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on two counts of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and one count of voting by alien. He is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota on Aug. 11, and falsely claimed United States citizenship to vote on Oct. 23, 2024, and Aug. 11, 2026.

Ghanaian national Joshua Frederick Kofi Edzie, 63, a lawful permanent resident

• Liberian national Alan Barbu Kargbo, 48, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and one count of voting by alien. He is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota and falsely claimed U.S. citizenship in order to vote on Nov. 5, 2024. 

Liberian national Alan Barbu Kargbo, 48, a lawful permanent resident

• German national Paul Kras, 78, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of voting by alien. He is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota on Nov. 5, 2024. 
• Bosnian national Fadil Rasim Ozegovic, 58, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and one count of voting by alien. He is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota and falsely claimed United States citizenship in order to vote on Nov. 5, 2024.

Bosnian national Fadil Rasim Ozegovic, 58, a lawful permanent resident

• Brazilian national Aparecido Donizetti Padovan, 62, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and one count of voting by alien. He is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota and falsely claimed United States citizenship in order to vote on Nov. 5, 2024. 

Brazilian national Aparecido Donizetti Padovan, 62, a lawful permanent resident

• Liberian national Chris Adam Pettiquoi, 43, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and one count of voting by alien. He is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota and falsely claimed United States citizenship in order to vote on Nov. 5, 2024. 
• Canadian national Christian Liam Schenk, 47, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and one count of voting by alien. He is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota and falsely claimed United States citizenship in order to vote on Nov. 5, 2024. 
• South African national Hester Sophia Weihmann, 69, a lawful permanent resident has been charged on one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and one count of voting by alien. She is alleged to have voted illegally as an alien in Minnesota and falsely claimed United States citizenship in order to vote on Nov. 5, 2024.

A complaint, indictment, and information merely contain accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Governor Hochul Announces Opening of FAFSA, TAP and STEM Applications for 2027-28 Academic Year

Applications Now Open for Federal and State College Financial Aid

Financial Aid Programs Make College More Affordable and Attainable

Launch Aligns With College Application Initiative

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that applications for the 2027-28 academic year are open for the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and New York State Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program. Additionally, the 2027-28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has opened to all students. Together, these state and federal programs can help reduce the cost of attending college by thousands of dollars. The program’s launch coincides with New York’s College Application Initiative, which runs from October to November, and helps high school seniors apply to college by waiving application fees.

“Last year, $226 million in college financial aid was left on the table in New York, and that’s money our students and families can’t afford to miss out on,” Governor Hochul said. “Through programs like TAP and the STEM Incentive Program, we’re helping put college within reach for more New Yorkers. I encourage every eligible student to apply for financial aid and take advantage of these opportunities. New York is home to some of the nation’s finest colleges and universities, and we’re focused on making higher education more accessible and attainable while ensuring a world-class education is affordable for every New Yorker.”

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Since 1974, TAP has provided approximately $31 billion to 6.3 million New Yorkers. In the 2024-25 academic year alone, HESC distributed more than $778 million in TAP awards to more than 294,000 students across the state. For the 2025-26 academic year, students submitted more than 491,000 TAP applications, and more than 444,000 applications have been submitted so far for the 2026-27 academic year.

Historic changes by Governor Hochul, with the support of the legislature, made TAP available to more students through expanded eligibility. Recent changes to TAP include:

• Maximum award increased by $500 to $5,665 in 2021-22.
• Minimum award doubled from $500 to $1,000 in 2024-25, benefiting roughly 93,000 students in public and private institutions across the state.
• In 2024-25, increased income eligibility for dependent students from $80,000 to $125,000, from $30,000 to $60,000 for married students with no dependents; and from $10,000 to $30,000 for independent single students with no dependents. This resulted in 48,000 newly eligible recipients.

The Governor also expanded TAP to Part-Time students.

The Part-Time TAP program was also expanded to include proprietary colleges, making it accessible to students attending SUNY, CUNY, proprietary, and independent degree-granting colleges on a part-time basis. Students must apply for TAP for the 2026-27 academic year by June 30, 2027, and students seeking TAP for the 2027-28 academic year must apply by June 30, 2028. Students who qualify as eligible non-citizens may also apply for State aid through the Senator José Peralta New York State DREAM Act or the Alternate Eligibility Pathway.

STEM Incentive Program

The STEM Incentive Program provides tuition awards to high-performing students graduating in the top 10 percent of their New York State high school class who pursue approved STEM degrees at SUNY or CUNY. In the 2024-25 academic year, $7.65 million in STEM funding was awarded to support 1,237 students.

Eligible seniors are encouraged to apply even if they have not yet chosen the college they will be attending. High school seniors interested in the NYS STEM Incentive Program for the 2027-28 academic year must apply by August 15, 2027. Recipients must attend full time and, after graduation, live in New York and work in an approved STEM occupation for five years. Eligibility and application information is available at hesc.ny.gov/stem.

FAFSA Opens Access to Financial Aid

Completing the FAFSA is an important first step toward accessing federal financial aid including Pell Grants, work-study, and student loans, while also determining eligibility for some state and college-based aid that can make higher education affordable. In 2024-25, New York students left more than $226 million in federal financial aid unclaimed by not submitting the FAFSA.

New York students submitted more than 1.4 million FAFSA applications for the 2025-26 academic year, a 10.25 percent increase from the 2024-25 academic year. The Governor’s Universal FAFSA Completion initiative first took effect with the graduating Class of 2025. The initiative requires graduating high school seniors to complete the FAFSA, apply for financial aid through the NYS DREAM Act or opt out by completing a waiver. More than 70 percent of the Class of 2026 completed the FAFSA.

The application deadline for FAFSA and TAP for the 2027-28 academic year is June 30, 2028. Those seeking FAFSA and TAP assistance for the 2026–27 academic year must submit their applications by June 30, 2027. The FAFSA is open for the 2027-28 academic year until June 30, 2028, and for the 2026-27 academic year until June 30, 2027.

College Application Initiative (CAI)

The opening of the FAFSA and TAP aligns with the New York State College Application Initiative (CAI). During designated periods this fall, SUNY, CUNY, and participating private colleges and universities across New York State will waive college application fees. Running from October through November, CAI helps high school seniors navigate the college application process, with a focus on first-generation students and those from underserved communities, and a goal of completing at least one college application per student. In addition to saving students and families money, the initiative provides resources and hands-on support to help students complete college and financial aid applications, including the FAFSA and TAP, and take the next step toward higher education.

For a list of participating colleges and more information, visit the College Application Initiative webpage.

Visit hesc.ny.gov for eligibility details, application assistance, and information about other grants and scholarships. 

2026 VAN NEST NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE (VNNA)–WEDNESDAY OCT 7–MONTHLY MEETING—7PM

 

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AG James Joins Lawsuit Against HHS for Stripping Seven Childhood Vaccines of Universal Recommendation

 

The Attorney General Coalition today announced a lawsuit against U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to restore the science-based childhood vaccine schedule that has protected American children for decades. In January, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new vaccine schedule that stopped recommending seven vaccines for all children, including vaccines that protect against hepatitis B, influenza, RSV, and meningitis. Now, Attorney General James is joining 15 other states in a lawsuit arguing that the new schedule ignored decades of scientific evidence, cut out the experts and public input required by law, and will leave more children sick, hospitalized, or worse. The coalition is also challenging Secretary Kennedy’s decision to abruptly fire all 17 voting members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the expert federal panel that has guided U.S. vaccine policy for decades, and replace them with members who lack the necessary expertise or qualifications.

“Every parent wants their child to grow up healthy and protected from preventable diseases,” said Attorney General James. “For decades, these vaccines have kept millions of children out of the hospital and saved countless lives. Families deserve guidance grounded in science, and these abrupt changes put children's health at risk. I will keep fighting to protect our kids and make sure every family can trust the advice they get from their pediatrician.”

Secretary Kennedy is among the nation’s most prominent anti-vaccine activists and has significantly contributed to eroding trust in safe and effective vaccines. His views have proven to have zero basis in science and risk making the country less healthy. Among children born in the U.S. between 1994 and 2023, researchers estimate that routine childhood vaccinations prevented about 508 million cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and over 1.1 million deaths, generating $2.7 trillion in societal savings.

In June 2025, despite promising Congress he would leave ACIP alone, Secretary Kennedy fired all 17 of its members and replaced them with his own appointees, many of them vaccine skeptics, without following the required vetting process. Internal HHS emails show that before the new members were even seated, Secretary Kennedy asked that their agenda include weakening the hepatitis B recommendation for healthy children. In December 2025, the new panel voted to end the recommendation that all babies receive a hepatitis B vaccination dose at birth, a recommendation that had been in place since 1991, even as members acknowledged there was no evidence the birth dose causes harm.

Weeks later, the administration bypassed the committee entirely. Three officials with no role in CDC vaccine policy – the heads of the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Food and Drug Administration – sent a memo to then-acting CDC Director Jim O'Neill urging him to implement Secretary Kennedy’s preferred vaccine schedule.

The updated schedule removed vaccines against rotavirus, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, COVID-19, and RSV from the list of vaccinations recommended for every child. Most were moved to a category called “shared clinical decision-making,” which was historically reserved for rare cases where science was genuinely uncertain. For more than 100 million Americans without regular access to a primary care provider, the new vaccine schedule creates yet another barrier to protecting their children. O'Neill, who has no medical or scientific training, signed it the same day without expert review, public notice, or opportunity for comment.

The stakes for children are severe. During the 2024-25 flu season, 289 children died from the flu, the highest number since reporting began outside of the 2009 pandemic. Nearly half had no underlying medical conditions, and 89 percent of those whose vaccination status was known were not fully vaccinated. RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for infants in the U.S., sending up to 80,000 young children to the hospital each year. Researchers estimate that delaying the first hepatitis B dose by just two months could cause at least 1,400 new childhood infections every year, and could lead to nearly 300 cases of liver cancer and 480 hepatitis B-related deaths over time.

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the changes force states to spend time and money cleaning up the confusion. For decades, states built school immunization requirements, insurance coverage rules, and Medicaid programs around the federal government’s expert recommendations. New York has already enacted two new laws so that insurance coverage, school immunization requirements, Medicaid coverage, and pharmacists’ authority to vaccinate no longer depend on the federal committee Secretary Kennedy took over.

The states argue that the Secretary’s changes are arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. They are asking the court to declare the new vaccine schedule unlawful, to throw out Secretary Kennedy’s appointments to ACIP, and reverse the committee’s hepatitis B decision.

Attorney General James joins in this lawsuit with the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin, as well as the governor of Pennsylvania

Mayor Mamdani to Deliver Free Child Care to More Than 10,000 Low-Income Children

 

Administration moves 10,000 children ages 6 weeks to 13 years off the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) waitlist 

Mayor Mamdani and the NYC Administration for Children's Services (ACS) today announced that the city will deliver free child care to more than 10,000 children by moving them off the child care voucher waitlist. Supported by a $1.2 billion investment from Governor Kathy Hochul towards the city’s free child care initiatives, today’s announcement will support low-income children ages 6 weeks to 13 years, and through age 19 for children with special needs.

As part of today’s announcement, the City has added a new feature to its child care map and website - nyc.gov/childcare - which allows families, for the first time ever, to search for licensed child care programs and filter for which of them accept child care vouchers. This announcement comes on the heels of a $5.2 million investment by Mayor Mamdani to eliminate all out-of-pocket fees for families receiving child care vouchers in New York City and builds upon the launch of 2-K, the city’s first free, universal child care program for two-year-olds.

“For families struggling to make ends meet, and the providers who deliver them high-quality and consistent child care, access to vouchers is nothing short of transformational. Today’s voucher expansion is a critical step in ensuring no family is left behind in our movement towards universal childcare,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Raising a family in the wealthiest city in the wealthiest country should never be the source of fear, stress and worry. In partnership with Governor Hochul, we will work tirelessly to make sure New York City is a place families are proud to call home.”

"Today's historic free child care expansion will bring relief to thousands more families across New York City,” said Governor Hochul. “In partnership with Mayor Mamdani, we're building a child caresystem that lifts up every family, from launching 2-K and expanding 3-K to moving families off waitlists and into high-quality care. No family should struggle to afford the child care they need and deserve, and I'll keep fighting to deliver universal child care for every family across our city and state."

“Thanks to the commitment of Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul, over the coming months, ACS will be able to provide child care assistance to thousands more children.  This is a win for children and families; a win for providers; and a win for the City of New York,” said ACS Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston.

“For many of the City’s lowest-income families and the child care providers who serve their communities, the Child Care Assistance Program is a lifeline, providing access to subsidized care that can make the difference between whether a parent can go to work and afford to raise their family here,” said Emmy Liss, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. “The Administration’s plan to expand access to care, enabled by the Governor’s investments, is a critical step in our overall commitment to deliver universal child care for all.”

The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) provides subsidized child care for eligible children ages 6 weeks through 13 years old, and through age 19 for children with special needs. On day eight of this Administration, Governor Kathy Hochul committed $1.2 billion towards child care in New York City, including $475 million specifically to child care vouchers. Today’s announcement is a culmination of significant work by the city to stabilize vouchers for existing recipients and identify funds for expansion.

Over the next few weeks, ACS will begin inviting families with children on the waitlist to apply for a voucher.  If they are eligible, they will receive a voucher to cover the cost of care at a provider of their choice. Families will be invited on a rolling basis over the next few months. As mandated by the federal government, ACS will prioritize families that have income under 300 percent of the federal poverty line, are unhoused, or have a child with special needs.

"By harnessing the power of technology and data, the Mamdani administration is making it easier for New Yorkers to access the government services they need,” said NYC Chief Technology Officer and Office of Technology and Innovation Commissioner Lisa Gelobter. "Our Child Care Map update means NYC families don't have to make phone calls to learn if the center they want accepts vouchers. For the first time, the City is providing this information directly to families in a single place at the click of a button — saving them valuable time and empowering better, more informed decisions.”

Sol On Park Breaks Ground At 3728 Park Avenue In Claremont Village, The Bronx

 

Construction is underway on Sol on Park, an 18-story affordable senior housing building at 3728 Park Avenue in Claremont Village, The Bronx. Designed by Magnusson Architecture and Planning and developed by The NRP Group, Selfhelp Realty Group, and Foxy Management in partnership with the New York City Housing Authority, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and the Housing Development Corporation, the 173,483-square-foot structure will yield 229 permanently affordable rental units for seniors.

The project will also include more than 8,000 square feet of community facility space, a pedestrian plaza, and a new fully accessible headquarters for the Morris Houses Resident Association. The property is located between St. Pauls Place and East 170th Street,

Rendering of Sol on Park. Designed by Magnusson Architecture and Planning.

Of the 229 apartments, 80 units will be reserved for current NYCHA residents living at Morris I and II through the Transfer of Assistance program, 69 units will serve formerly homeless seniors, and the remaining 79 units will be offered through the Housing Connect lottery to low- and middle-income seniors.

The transaction is the city’s largest use to date of Transfer of Assistance, a federal Rental Assistance Demonstration tool that shifts participating households from Section 9 to Project-Based Section 8 assistance while preserving their rent calculation and resident protections. In essence, the program allows longtime Morris Houses seniors to move into the new building while their vacated apartments open up for future residents.

Rendering of Sol on Park. Designed by Magnusson Architecture and Planning.

Renderings depict an angled massing, clad in prefabricated fiber-cement panels and culminating in a series of cascading roof terraces and gardens on the seventh, eighth, and ninth floors dedicated to wellness programming. The building is designed to LEED Platinum and Passive House standards.

Residential amenities will include exercise rooms, computer labs, bicycle storage, and laundry facilities. The community facility will house a health center operated with Union Community Health Center, an urban agriculture and nutrition education facility run with Green Bronx Machine’s National Health & Wellness Center, and an approximately 1,400-square-foot space for the tenant association.

Rendering of Sol on Park. Designed by Magnusson Architecture and Planning.

NYCHA and HPD issued a request for proposals for the roughly 13,000-square-foot parcel in 2019 under the Seniors First initiative and selected the development team in 2022, following years of resident engagement on the campus.

Sol on Park is The NRP Group’s first development in New York City. The Mamdani administration plans to expand the Transfer of Assistance model through its Block by Block housing plan, which targets 200,000 new affordable homes over the next decade.

Pre-leasing and early move-ins at Sol on Park are scheduled for early 2029, according to the mayor’s office.