When will first stage of platform over railyard start in 2020? No answer, but contractor not signed yet. That hints at delay.
This is the second of ten articles on the 11/19/19 Quality of Life meeting, which focused on the new B12 and B13 towers. The first concerned plans to finally move forward with Site 5. The third concerned the single parking garage entrance on the block. The fourth concerned the design of the new towers. The fifth concerned open space plans on that southeast block. The sixth concerned B4, Times Plaza, and the railyard. The seventh concerned art on the Dean Street construction fence. The eighth concerned recent traffic chaos around Disney on Ice. The ninth concerned the Pacific Park Conservancy. The tenth concerned the Pacific Park Owners Association.
One question looming, but not quite answered at the meeting, involves developer Greenland Forest City Partners' plan to start the first phase of the two-block platform over the Vanderbilt Yard.
As I reported, Greenland USA--by far the dominant player in the joint venture--told the New York Post it would start the platform in 2020, but offered no timetable.
I cited a document, excerpted below, that indicated that groundbreaking was aimed for early 2020, with substantial completion targeted for December 2022--a three-year project.
Querying the developer
When Scott Solish, Greenland USA's project manager, provided various updates on the project and took questions, I asked if he had any update on the timing of the platform and to build the three towers planned over that first phase.
No, Solish said.
Gib Veconi, a member of the advisory Atlantic Yards Community Development Corporation, noted the announcement of 2020 construction. Has a contractor, he asked, been signed to that project?
No, Solish said.
"And funding?" another audience member asked.
"We’ll fund it," Solish said. (Of course.)
"You don’t have a contractor?" Veconi followed up.
"Not officially," Solish said. That suggests that the effort was in process and, perhaps, relatively close to a resolution.
Previous goal: Construction Manager selected by August
Still, that does raise some doubt. A document I acquired, the Request for Qualifications for Construction Management Services, had a 6/21/19 deadline and stated:
However, presumably if Greenland Forest City had selected a construction manager by August, they would've told the New York Post. If they'd more recently selected a construction manager, Solish might have confirmed it at the meeting.
That doesn't mean they're not moving ahead. But it does suggest that, as with many elements of this project, the timing may be behind the optimal schedule.
One question looming, but not quite answered at the meeting, involves developer Greenland Forest City Partners' plan to start the first phase of the two-block platform over the Vanderbilt Yard.
As I reported, Greenland USA--by far the dominant player in the joint venture--told the New York Post it would start the platform in 2020, but offered no timetable.
I cited a document, excerpted below, that indicated that groundbreaking was aimed for early 2020, with substantial completion targeted for December 2022--a three-year project.
Querying the developer
When Scott Solish, Greenland USA's project manager, provided various updates on the project and took questions, I asked if he had any update on the timing of the platform and to build the three towers planned over that first phase.
No, Solish said.
Gib Veconi, a member of the advisory Atlantic Yards Community Development Corporation, noted the announcement of 2020 construction. Has a contractor, he asked, been signed to that project?
No, Solish said.
"And funding?" another audience member asked.
"We’ll fund it," Solish said. (Of course.)
"You don’t have a contractor?" Veconi followed up.
"Not officially," Solish said. That suggests that the effort was in process and, perhaps, relatively close to a resolution.
Previous goal: Construction Manager selected by August
Still, that does raise some doubt. A document I acquired, the Request for Qualifications for Construction Management Services, had a 6/21/19 deadline and stated:
This Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) is part of the process for the selection of the construction manager (“CM”) who will provide construction management services (“CM Service”) for the west (Block 1120) Platform. The design of the west Platform is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed later this year. GFCP plans to select a CM by August and start awarding a few early packages by the end of the year with an anticipated construction start in early 2020.Note that a construction manager (CM) is not necessarily a contractor, since the CM would then manage those contractors.
However, presumably if Greenland Forest City had selected a construction manager by August, they would've told the New York Post. If they'd more recently selected a construction manager, Solish might have confirmed it at the meeting.
That doesn't mean they're not moving ahead. But it does suggest that, as with many elements of this project, the timing may be behind the optimal schedule.
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