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Q&A

Dep. Speaker Williams on York College groundwater flooding update

New York City Council · Jun 8, 2026 · starts 1:46:49 · 1 min 54 sec

Williams asks for an update on the $30 million for York College groundwater flooding. Dr. Williams reports phase one grouting is complete, phase two mechanical design will be done by early 2027, and value engineering reduced the cost from $25 million to $10 million.

Unidentified speaker

And then last year, I asked a question about the $30 million that was supposed to be allocated to your college to address the groundwater flooding issue.

Unidentified speaker

Do you have any updates on that?

Unidentified speaker

Because last year, the answer...

Unidentified speaker

Sarah was not precise.

Unidentified speaker

Do you want to know the answer?

Unidentified speaker

Last year you all talked about it and said that it was going to happen, but there wasn't a clear timeline.

Dr. Williams

Sure.

Dr. Williams

Thank you for the question, Councilwoman.

Dr. Williams

We just completed, the consultant just completed phase one of the work that's being done, that's the grouting work around the plan.

Dr. Williams

Phase two, which is the mechanical design, will be completed by early 2027.

Dr. Williams

The project was, originally was,

Dr. Williams

It was about $25 million.

Dr. Williams

Based on the work that we have been able to do, it's now down to $10 million.

Dr. Williams

So we've been able to do some value engineering that has allowed us to bring that project.

Dr. Williams

So that project is right on target to be completed.

Dr. Williams

We are also, I know one of the other concerns you've raised, we've also are in conversations with DEP about the charges that they're charging the college, which is over the last couple of years has been about $400,000

Dr. Williams

to try to really figure out how those charges could be removed from the, because it's a burn on a college that really needs the resources.

Dr. Williams

So sort of more to come there, but we're right on target to be able to address this.

Dr. Williams

So hopefully by next year, when I'm

Félix Matos Rodríguez

In front of you again, we'll be able to celebrate that we've got this project sort of completed.

Unidentified speaker

Okay, thank you.

Unidentified speaker

Thanks, Chairs.