Renovation of the interiors of the former P.S. 64 school building on 9th Street east of Tompkins Square Park began last month and the controversial, landmarked property is now being marketed by Helmsley-Spear as "Ideal for schools, universities, museums, college dormitories, medical offices, hospital foundations, non-profit institutions and related facilities."

The red-brick, 1904 building had been bought by Gregg Singer from the city in 1998 for $3.15 million. It had formerly been used a community and cultural center known as CHARAS/El Bohio and Mr. Singer's plans to redevelop the property, which extends through the block to 10th Street, created considerable controversy in the community, especially when he began to strip away of the building's ornamentation.

Warren Sorgen and Clemente Cohen of Helmsley-Spear said that the renovation will include the installation of new windows and the elevator system and Mr. Sorgen told Albert Amateau of The Villager this week that Mr. Singer is still an owner of the property. In Mr. Amateau's article, Mr. Sorgen is quoted as maintaining that the controversy "is ancient history now," adding that "this is a brand-new project. The city is behind it - it's a fine project. Helmsley-Spear wouldn't be involved if it were not."

The article indicated that the renovation will permit the creation of a new 13,000-square-foot, column-free, space on the first floor suitable for a gymnasium, a theater or a swimming pool.

The owners, it continued, would also consider creating a "building within a building" with multiple entrances and multiple uses, including leasing individual floors and selling portions of the building as a commercial condominium.

In an effort to forestall landmarking, Singer made use of a demolition permit -- issued prior to the L.P.C. action -- to strip exterior architectural details from the building.

Sorgen on Tuesday acknowledged that Singer was still one of the owners of the property, but he insisted that the controversy "is ancient history now." He went on to say, "This is a brand-new project. The city is behind it -- it's a fine project. Helmsley-Spear wouldn't be involved if it were not."

The offering memorandum for the building notes that the owners have drafted plans to redevelop the building as a college dormitory with a capacity for about 600 students in 97 units. The owners, however, according to the article, would consider any use allowed in an R8-B zone, according to the memorandum. The property has a deed restriction for use as a community-use facility.