From the latest Construction Alert: "loud banging noises" predicted until 1 am over ten days; work to begin on broadcast parking lot, comfort station at Dean Playground

The latest two-week Atlantic Yards Construction Alert, dated 5/7/12 (and embedded below) and released yesterday by Empire State Development after preparation by Forest City Ratner, contains some warnings to neighbors near the site.

Notably, from 3:30pm – 1:00 am between May 10-20, residents should expect to hear "loud banging noises by dump trucks will occur as they empty their loads of stone in the east yard between Carlton and Vanderbilt Avenues."

Also, there will be additional demolition on the southeast block of the project site, Block 1129, in preparation for construction on the surface parking lot, which is to start May 15.

New broadcast parking lot, comfort station

A "vacant lot at the northeast corner of Dean Street and 6th Avenue that is currently being used as temporary NYPD parking will be improved for use as an at grade broadcast location for the Arena," according to the alert. Of course, the lot was dis-improved by being created out of, in part, two intact houses that were demolished. A Department of Buildings permit is expected within two weeks.

Also, "[a]s part of the construction impact mitigation requirements AYDC [Atlantic Yards Development Company] will construct a comfort station in the Dean Street Playground," including men’s and women’s rooms, a small maintenance storage room and perimeter paving and landscaping. A permit is expected within two weeks.

While such a comfort station was on the Parks department wish list, it is less a mitigation of the noise impacting the playground than an offset. Then again, Forest City Ratner agreed to spend $1.25 million after first offering only $20,000.

I've bolded the notable changes from the previous alert.

Arena site

Revisions to the perimeter construction fence are projected to continue this reporting period, in order to allow the site construction activity to ramp up. Adjustments will be made to the portion of the fence along Dean Street & 6th Avenue and Dean Street & Flatbush Avenue. A temporary sidewalk bridge will be placed on Flatbush Avenue east side during the erection of the main entry canopy. The permit has been secured for this work and the work is projected to start late during this reporting period.

Façade Installation

• The installation of curtain wall and curtain wall/lattice panels will continue on the Flatbush Avenue elevation as needed, and then following the canopy steel erection. In the interest of public safety, and as approved by the New York City Building Department, pedestrians using the east side sidewalk of Flatbush Avenue next to the arena may be temporarily diverted to across the street by Hunt flagmen during high level work outside the canopy zone. A sidewalk bridge is to be installed when the canopy steel & facade erection is adjacent to the pedestrian way. The façade erector will continue with installation of panels along the 6th Avenue and Dean Street elevations during this reporting period installing the low and mid level panels.

Waterproofing & Fireproofing

The waterproofing of the interior walls of the east and west stormwater retention tanks has been completed. The preparation for the testing of the tanks has begun. The testing is projected to start this reporting period.

Mechanical, Electrical, & Plumbing

• The installation of the truck elevator service turntable is substantially complete. Punch list and testing will continue this reporting period.• The installation of the arena bowl ribbon (video boards) will continue this reporting period. The main scoreboard hoist has been placed.

Interior buildout

• Seating installation will continue in the upper bowl this reporting period.

New Subway Entrance/Work outside the Fence

• Permits have been secured for the portions of the street immediately adjacent to the “Tip” of the project area. The southern eastbound lane of Atlantic Avenue continues to be taken behind an expanded MPT in order to facilitate the water main installation. This expanded MPT has been approved by DOT. The backfill over the main is now substantially complete.

Rail Yard Track Work

• From 3:30pm – 1:00am loud banging noises by dump trucks will occur as they empty their loads of stone in the east yard between Carlton and Vanderbilt Avenues. These truckload deliveries of stone are expected to occur from May 10th through May 20th.

Carlton Ave. Bridge

• MPT continues to be in place at Carlton Ave. and Pacific Street during this reporting period the contractor will continue to form and install rebar for the stem wall of the new South Abutment and place concrete as required. Noise attenuation blanketing is being utilized to cover a generator being used to cool the concrete during curing at the South Abutment.Construction of Pier #2 has been completed.
• The footing and the first level of the stem wall for the North Abutment have been completed. Work is to commence on Pier #1 during the next two weeks.

Replacement of Adjacent Water Mains and other Utility Work

• Catch basins at the corner of Pacific and 6th Avenue were modified. During the next two week period the finish castings will be installed. Roadway restoration will be scheduled and coordinated with LIRR drainage work and traffic mitigation roadway work in the area.

Block 1129

• During May and possibly into June, the west wall of 754 Pacific Street will be reinforced, sidewalk bridges will be removed and the fragments of a former building at 585 Dean Street will be demolished. • Construction of the Block 1129 parking lot is officially slated to start on May 15th. Initial operations will consist of clearing the site, demolition of the remaining structures on the site, and grading of the site down to the final subgrade elevation. This grading operation will include removal of abandoned foundations from previous buildings as needed and will include removing the soil from the site. All of the soil on the site has been sampled and tested and is classified as “historic fill”, which is a low-level contamination unsuitable for use in other sites but not needing special considerations for handling.

Traffic Mitigation Site Work

Atlantic Avenue Medians
Work was expected to begin in late April 2012 on the remaining traffic mitigation work but was postponed due to delays in the City water main work east of Carlton Avenue. The city’s work is expected to be complete by early June. Most of the traffic mitigation site work is made up of raised medians along Atlantic Avenue from Flatbush Avenue to Vanderbilt Avenue. OCMC is reviewing the scope and location of the medians and will determine whether the work shall be performed during limited daytime hours, which will prolong the construction period, or at night between 10 pm and 6 am. If the work is done at night, mobile light units will be used to illuminate the work area. The arena block, Carlton Avenue Bridge reconstruction and DDC utility work between Carlton and Vanderbilt Avenues also take lanes out of service. Therefore, the median work must be scheduled block by block to coordinate with the other work schedules and MPT configurations. Because the work is a few feet directly above the LIRR tunnel into Atlantic Terminal, the means and methods must be reviewed and approved by the LIRR.

Arena Site Work

The curb installation work and street light installation work has now substantially complete on Flatbush Avenue. This work will continue for the rest of the month of May. Upon completion of this work, curbs and sidewalks along Atlantic Avenue will then be installed.

[No, the above is not quite coherent]

Broadcast Lot – Block 1128

The vacant lot at the northeast corner of Dean Street and 6th Avenue that is currently being used as temporary NYPD parking will be improved for use as an at grade broadcast location for the Arena. The improvements include permeable asphalt paving, fencing with a decorative screen, lights which will be focused on the interior of the lot and pedestals for power and data connections. We have submitted an Alteration Type 2 application to the Department of Buildings and expect a permit within the two week period. The contractor will mobilize at the site, erect standard construction fencing and perimeter protection immediately upon receipt of the permit. The work is scheduled to be complete this fall.

Dean Street Playground Comfort Station

As part of the construction impact mitigation requirements AYDC will construct a comfort station in the Dean Street Playground near the eastern entrance to the park at Bergen Street between 6th and Carlton Avenues. The design, which includes men’s and women’s rooms, a small maintenance storage room and perimeter paving and landscaping, has been approved by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, Community Board and the New York City Public Design Commission. We have submitted a New Building application to the Department of Buildings and expect a permit within the two week period. The contractor will mobilize at the site, erect standard construction fencing and perimeter protection immediately upon receipt of the permit. The work is scheduled to be complete this fall.

Community Liaison Office

In the next two weeks the Community Liaison Office will be relocated to the existing building at 754 Pacific Street, due to construction on Block 1129. The CLO will continue to be open M-F from 9am – 4pm and the phone number, 866-923-5315 and email, communityliaison@atlanticyards.com will remain the same. Visitors will enter through the guard booth at the corner of Carlton Avenue and Pacific St.

AY Construction Alert 5-7-2012