Developers propose Building 21 as an on‑site childcare and workforce hub, including space for 200 children and a high‑bay training shop

Developers presented plans on June 23 to convert Building 21 at the South Works site into an "Empowerment Center" combining childcare and workforce training.

Johanna Anderson, executive director of Ascend Workforce Solutions, described a basement high‑bay training area designed for hands‑on trades instruction: forklift certification, framing, electrical and other construction skills. "This space is going to be able to train about 100 to 150 people per year," Anderson said, and she highlighted the benefit of apprentices and trainees moving from the training shop to active job sites on the larger South Works campus.

Childcare provider First Learning (represented by CEO David Kozinski) said the plan would create roughly 200 child care slots across the first and second floors, with a flexible room mix for infants, toddlers and school‑age children and an indoor play area for inclement weather. Kozinski said the operator has experience with multi‑site operations across New York and has begun program and curriculum planning.

Architect John Snyder showed plans to reopen and restore the building’s exterior, remove an aging skybridge where needed and configure Turner Place for drop‑offs, a one‑way circulation loop and playground access. Jamie (engineer) and others described a parking and service plan that reuses existing asphalt while reducing overall impervious surface and adding child‑care drop‑off zones and bus drop‑offs.

Board members broadly praised the program but raised operational concerns. Jenny asked whether basement training noise would conflict with childcare on upper floors and pressed for clearer circulation and traffic analysis; she said Turner Place in its current configuration may not safely support the volume of short‑term drop‑off traffic expected for a large childcare center. The developers said the basement floor has a thick concrete separation and that entrances and ramps would be designed to avoid carrying children up and down stairs in routine operation.

The presenters said they plan to coordinate with TCAT for transit access and to refine vehicle and pedestrian circulation as final designs and site details are prepared.

Next steps: Building 21 presenters said they will continue design development and return to the planning board with more detailed site plans. The project team emphasized early occupancy of Building 21 as a way to bring workforce development and childcare online ahead of other site components.