New York City Mayor Eric Adams and CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez have announced $12.3 million in city funding to lease a new life sciences facility for Hostos Community College in the Bronx. The investment is part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Adopted Budget and will contribute to an approximately $70-million renovation of the historic Bronx General Post Office by developer BPO Owner LLC.
The new facility will offer hands-on training in health care programs such as nursing, occupational therapy, and home health care. It is expected to increase enrollment, create demand for additional faculty positions, expand research capacity, and help students enter careers in health and science fields.
“If it’s good enough for Cornell, it should be good enough for CUNY. There’s no reason our CUNY schools shouldn’t have the same level of resources and access to hands-on learning as their peers across the nation, and our administration is proud to help make that happen,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we are helping CUNY develop further into a world-class institution with the announcement of a brand new life sciences facility at Hostos Community College in the Bronx, which will feature modern instructional labs, classrooms, and student spaces, and serve up to 5,000 students per year. Building on our ‘Best Budget Ever,’ we are investing over $12 million more annually in Hostos to support the college’s growth, expand high-demand programs, and replace outdated labs — all which will drive enrollment, create demand for additional faculty, and give our students the skills they need to enter high-demand careers.”
“My story began at CUNY — more specifically, at Hostos Community College. CUNY opened the doors to opportunities and gave me the foundation to pursue my dreams in this city,” said New York City Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana J. Almanzar. “Now, in my role as deputy mayor and as the city’s liaison to CUNY, it is deeply meaningful to be part of this moment. Supporting my alma mater and contributing to its growth means helping thousands of New Yorkers have access to the same opportunities I once had. This new life sciences facility at Hostos is both an investment in the infrastructure of this institution and a commitment to our students — to their future, and to the next generation of health care leaders who will serve our fellow New Yorkers.”
“The transformation of the historic Bronx Central Post Office into a state-of-the art science facility for Hostos Community College is the realization of a decade-long ambition shared by the Bronx and Hostos communities,” said CUNY Chancellor Matos Rodríguez. “With more space, we will double the number of students eligible for meaningful careers as medical professionals, creating more avenues to New York’s thriving health care industry and improving access to health services for communities throughout the Bronx. I want to thank Mayor Adams and the City Council for giving this storied building a new lease on life while honoring its identity as a public good.”
“Today is a great day for Hostos and for our students,” said Hostos Community College President Dr. Daisy Cocco De Filippis. “We have been planning for years to build a new Allied Health Building to meet the increasing needs of our community, as more and more students are enrolling in pursuit of careers in health care and various STEM fields. We are so excited to start renovating the building, developing new programs and creating new opportunities for our students to progress socioeconomically. Mil gracias to Mayor Adams, CUNY, and BPO Owner for making this possible.”
“I have been working with Hostos for nearly a decade, and I am truly proud to have played a role in making this program and building a reality for Hostos and CUNY,” said Jorge Madruga, partner at BPO Owner LLC. “Bringing a revered Bronx institution like Hostos Community College into the Bronx General Post Office reflects our long-term vision to revitalize this historic landmark for the benefit of the community. We are honored to house their new life sciences facility here, which will open doors for more students to pursue critical education opportunities and higher paying jobs. I want to thank Mayor Adams and CUNY for their support in shaping the future of this important project, and everyone involved in making it a reality.”
The renovated space at 558 Grand Concourse will dedicate about 190,000 square feet—while maintaining roughly 10,000 square feet as an operating post office—to academic use by Hostos Community College’s Allied Health and Natural Sciences Life Sciences Center.
Currently serving over 2,400 allied health program enrollees—including dental hygiene; nursing; radiologic technology—the college expects up-to-5-000-students-per-semester participation after expansion.
The initiative follows recommendations from Hostos’ 2012 Master Plan Amendment that identified space shortages limiting academic growth due partly-to-outdated facilities.
Recent investments under Mayor Adams’ administration include nearly $12 million toward expanding career pathways through initiatives such as CUNY Inclusive Economy Initiative, partnerships with tech employers like Google through FutureReadyNYC, internship programs like CUNY Career Launch, action plans supporting young adults’ workforce entry (Pathways To An Inclusive Economy: An Action Plan For Young Adult Career Success), and expanded support systems via College Choice for foster youth attending any college including those within CUNY.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson commented: “Repurposing a part of the historic Bronx General Post Office into a center for learning and exploration shows how we’re reimagining space…students will gain hands-on training they need…This means more nurses…radiology technicians…dental hygienists…and soon…new programs…”
City Councilmember Eric Dinowitz added: “With this new state-of-the-art life science facility at Hostos — which will expand Hostos’ enrollment…create jobs…and grow research capacity —Hostos is preparing…the next generation…at-a-time when…healthcare workers are most-in-need—right here-in-the-Bronx…”
Councilmember Rafael Salamanca Jr., stated: “When we advocate-for ‘Rebuilding-the-Bronx’, it-is-exactly moments-like-the-opening-of-the-Hostos-Life-Sciences-Facility-at-Hostos-Community-College-that-we-envisioned…With-the-increase-in-research-capacity-that-this-facility-will-offer,-we-are-setting-students-up-for-success-and-perfectly-aligning-our-borough-to-be-at-the-forefront-of-healthcare-innovation…”
Construction on the facility is expected to begin fall 2026 with opening scheduled fall 2028.
