City sells bldg. in east Harlem.

The New York City Economic Development Corporation announced that it has sold 12,000 SF of city-owned property to Dimitri Nurseries Inc., a local retail garden center operator in East Harlem. Dimitri Nurseries has been operating at the site under a short-term lease from the City for 14 years. The Nursery plans to undertake major, capital improvements to the property that will expand and enhance its operations.

"Helping small businesses to stay and grow in the City is one of the most rewarding accomplishments of EDC," said EDC President Michael G. Carey. "Businesses with less than 50 employees provide jobs for more than a million New York City residents. I am especially pleased that we could help an enterprise like Dimiti Nurseries that hires most of its workers from its own neighborhood."

According to Dimitri Gatanos, who operates the family-owned business located between East 102nd and East 103nd Street on Second Avenue, 85 percent of its employees live in East Harlem. The estimated $200,000 construction project will allow Dimitri Nurseries to hire 30 employees this year, and possibly more by the next peak season.

Improvements to the site will include construction of a retail store and landscaping improvements such as pathways and garden waterfalls. Preliminary plans for the improvements have been completed and construction is expected to begin within the next five months and take up to 18 months to complete.