Nestled on the end of a quiet dead end street in West New York, Grandma’s Place (named after the owners’ mother) is only noticeable by its colorful awning. Otherwise, one might not even know it’s there.
So when the owners of the private day care center went before the West New York Zoning Board a little over a year ago to seek a variance to add a second floor at the rear of the building, they really didn’t expect a problem.
They got a problem, though, in the form of a handful of neighbors who live directly behind the center. One mentioned that the children threw garbage into his yard. Another was concerned that his view of the New York skyline would be blocked. The variance was voted down by a two to three margin.
Suha Hassan of West New York, owner and director of the center, is not interested in “fighting City Hall” or any of her neighbors, she said last week. But she said she had trouble understanding why someone would oppose something good for the city.
The expansion was scheduled for a Zoning Board hearing Thursday, Dec. 19. The new results were not available at press time.
Says Hassan, “There is a definite need for this. We are one of the best day cares in the area.”
Hassan’s brother, Sam Hassan, who helps run the center when not at his full-time job with the YMCA of Greater New York, echoed his sister’s confusion. “We want to keep this positive,” he said. “We don’t want to sound negative. This is about the kids.” Added Hassan, “We’re not in this to be rich, that’s for sure. It’s knowing that you’re giving back to the community. It’s self-gratifying.”
Said Suha Hassan, “Our whole family grew up in West New York. I was a teacher at Memorial High School and we’ve chosen to stay here in West New York and help the community.”
When the business was first opened in September 1999, the Hassans applied for government grants and eventually secured a federal “BB3” Grant also known as the “Bright Beginnings Grant” with the intent to open three pre-K classrooms. They did so, but soon realized that the needs of the community dictated that physical expansion was necessary.
One of the conditions of the grant, according to Hassan, was that the upstairs work would be done by August of 2002. But, said Hassan, “First the town lawyer quit, then the town secretary quit and then the paperwork got lost. September rolled around and we got an extension from the state until November, and here we are in December.”
According to Suha Hassan, the state said simply, ” ‘Keep a paper trail.’ ”
Moving sideways
The Hassans have even gone as far as to purchase the vacant house next door with the possibility of moving sideways instead of up.
According to Ralph Molfetta, who owns the building directly behind the center, that would be fine. His objection is that the current center is “loud and messy and the kids throw stuff in my backyard.” He also said that if kids play on certain parts of school property, “I know it’s a dead end street, but it’s still dangerous.” He said he “would have stopped it from the get-go”, referring to the day care center’s opening in 1999.
According to Willie Ortiz, the West New York-based lawyer representing the day care center, the first time the center was denied a variance, it was partly based on traffic issues. This time around, “we’ll have a traffic expert on hand,” he said.
The Hassans are understandably concerned that this issue not get out of hand. They said they have built a successful business in a short period of time and wish to remain harmonious with the neighborhood they are a part of.
Said Suha Hassan, “The kids are really comfortable here. Many of them don’t have both or even one parent. We even have a couple of ‘free’ kids here whose parents don’t pay anything. I mean, what are we going to do, say ‘no’?” Continued Hassan, “It’s not just a learning experience that the kids get here. It’s a loving relationship.”
A Zoning Board meeting was scheduled to be held on December 19 at 7 p.m. and according to Sam Hassan, “Our whole family will be there.”