Movement
The Fight to Save
CHARAS / El Bohio
A community-led movement to reclaim a historic space for arts, education, and the heartbeat of the Lower East Side.
A Space That Brought a Community Together
For decades, the Old P.S. 64 building wasn’t just brick and mortar. It was El Bohio—a sanctuary for Latino culture, a launchpad for local artists, and a safe harbor for the youth of Loisaida.
Founded by Chino Garcia and the CHARAS team, it transformed a neglected schoolhouse into a vibrant cultural engine. It was where movements were born and where our identity was preserved.
“We didn’t just reclaim a building; we reclaimed our future.”
The Crisis
What Happened in 1998?
01
Building Sold
Despite massive public outcry, the city auctioned the historic PS 64 to a private developer for $3.15 million.
02
Building Sold
Despite massive public outcry, the city auctioned the historic PS 64 to a private developer for $3.15 million.
03
Building Sold
Despite massive public outcry, the city auctioned the historic PS 64 to a private developer for $3.15 million.
“The sale of El Bohio was a betrayal of the Lower East Side’s history and its future.”
Milestones
Our History of Resistance
A timeline of the building, the movement, and the struggle for Loisaida.
Foundations
The beginnings of the CHARAS movement as young activists begin organizing in the Lower East Side.
The Golden Era
CHARAS takes over PS 64. The building becomes a world-renowned incubator for Latino arts, environmentalism, and social justice.
The Sale
The Giuliani administration auctions the building to developer Gregg Singer against fierce community opposition.
Legal Standoff
Two decades of legal battles. The building sits decaying as the developer fails to convert it into private dorms.
Reclamation
The fight intensifies as the city and community demand the building be returned to its rightful public use.
The Movement Continues
Community Meetings
Weekly strategy sessions and town halls to align our neighborhood goals.
Advocacy Campaigns
Lobbying city officials and state representatives for the return of the building.
Cultural Preservation
Maintaining the archives and stories of El Bohio for the next generation.
Public Awareness
Exhibits, rallies, and social media to keep the pressure on the developers.
More Than a Building
"PS 64 represents our identity, our culture, and the very future of the Lower East Side. If we lose our spaces, we lose our history. We fight for a future where community needs come before private profit."
Join the Friends of CHARAS
Community support has always been at the heart of CHARAS. Whether through volunteering, attending events, or making a donation, every contribution helps strengthen programs that benefit the Lower East Side.
Connect With CHARAS
Have questions or want to get involved? We would love to hear from you. Together we can protect the cultural heart of the Lower East Side.
EMAIL US
ELBOHIO.CHARAS@GMAIL.COM