Questions for tomorrow's Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Quality of Life meeting: ongoing construction, neighborhood lockdown, future plans
Tomorrow will be the first-ever virtual Quality of Life meeting, a typically bi-monthly public meeting that offers neighborhood residents a chance to hear from--and query--representatives of Empire State Development, the state authority overseeing/shepherding Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park, of developer Greenland Forest City Partners (and sometimes other developers who've leased parcels), and sometimes state and city agencies.
Rather than being held at 55 Hanson Place, this will be on Zoom.
I typically sit in the audience--which is typically less than 35 people--and either 1) wait for people to raise questions or 2) ask my own questions if I don't think anyone else will raise them.
In this case, given the awkwardness of the format, I'll post my questions ahead of time, so the presenters can respond. Project related questions and suggested agenda items may be sent to AtlanticYards@esd.ny.gov.
Current construction
Now that B4 (18 Sixth Avenue) and B15 (37 Sixth Avenue) have restarted, what's different? Are there fewer workers on shift? Are they socially distancing, and how has that been enforced?
What's the justification for extended daytime and Saturday construction, especially since that neighbors are now forced to work from home?
Are these buildings being redesigned--can they be?--for the pandemic? If so, in what way? Or is it assumed that, by the time they're open, a vaccine will be in place?
Expected construction: towers on southeast block
Construction of B12 and B13 (615 and 595 Dean Street) was expected to start this spring, then June or July. What's the plan for them to start, and how long would they take?
Are these buildings being redesigned--can they be?--for the pandemic? If so, in what way? Or is it assumed that, by the time they're open, a vaccine will be in place?
What about the planned underground fitness center and field house: are they being redesigned--can they be?--for the pandemic? If so, in what way? Or is it assumed that, by the time they're open, a vaccine will be in place?
Expected construction: tower on railyard
Last month, Greenland Forest City Partners filed permits for the B5 tower, the first over the Vanderbilt Yard. Why file then, and when would construction start?
Does that work have to coordinate with construction on the first phase of the Vanderbilt Yard platform? When will that platform construction start? Has a contractor been signed?
How long would tower construction take? How long would the platform take? Would that first block--over the railyard between Sixth and Carlton avenues--be on one or multiple phases?
B3 facade
What's going on with the facade of 38 Sixth Avenue, aka B3? Several panels appear to have been replaced by plywood, and there's scaffolding protecting the street.
Lockdown questions
Daily protests at the Barclays Center plaza has resulted in a neighborhood lockdown, with multiple points of access blocked and residents required to show ID to get home.
Is it legal to require ID? (The NY Civil Liberties Union says no.) Are there exceptions? How long will this last? Have elected officials objected?
How long will the neighborhood have barriers on streets preventing access to the 78th Precinct, and the arena?
What about the limited access to the Barclays Center plaza? How long will that last?
Transit entrance
The elevator at the Barclays plaza is still out. How long has it been out, and how long until it gets repaired?
One of the escalators is out, as well. How long has it been out, and how long until it gets repaired?
Rather than being held at 55 Hanson Place, this will be on Zoom.
I typically sit in the audience--which is typically less than 35 people--and either 1) wait for people to raise questions or 2) ask my own questions if I don't think anyone else will raise them.
In this case, given the awkwardness of the format, I'll post my questions ahead of time, so the presenters can respond. Project related questions and suggested agenda items may be sent to AtlanticYards@esd.ny.gov.
Current construction
Now that B4 (18 Sixth Avenue) and B15 (37 Sixth Avenue) have restarted, what's different? Are there fewer workers on shift? Are they socially distancing, and how has that been enforced?
What's the justification for extended daytime and Saturday construction, especially since that neighbors are now forced to work from home?
Are these buildings being redesigned--can they be?--for the pandemic? If so, in what way? Or is it assumed that, by the time they're open, a vaccine will be in place?
Expected construction: towers on southeast block
Construction of B12 and B13 (615 and 595 Dean Street) was expected to start this spring, then June or July. What's the plan for them to start, and how long would they take?
Are these buildings being redesigned--can they be?--for the pandemic? If so, in what way? Or is it assumed that, by the time they're open, a vaccine will be in place?
What about the planned underground fitness center and field house: are they being redesigned--can they be?--for the pandemic? If so, in what way? Or is it assumed that, by the time they're open, a vaccine will be in place?
Expected construction: tower on railyard
Last month, Greenland Forest City Partners filed permits for the B5 tower, the first over the Vanderbilt Yard. Why file then, and when would construction start?
Does that work have to coordinate with construction on the first phase of the Vanderbilt Yard platform? When will that platform construction start? Has a contractor been signed?
How long would tower construction take? How long would the platform take? Would that first block--over the railyard between Sixth and Carlton avenues--be on one or multiple phases?
B3 facade
What's going on with the facade of 38 Sixth Avenue, aka B3? Several panels appear to have been replaced by plywood, and there's scaffolding protecting the street.
Lockdown questions
Daily protests at the Barclays Center plaza has resulted in a neighborhood lockdown, with multiple points of access blocked and residents required to show ID to get home.
Is it legal to require ID? (The NY Civil Liberties Union says no.) Are there exceptions? How long will this last? Have elected officials objected?
How long will the neighborhood have barriers on streets preventing access to the 78th Precinct, and the arena?
What about the limited access to the Barclays Center plaza? How long will that last?
Transit entrance
The elevator at the Barclays plaza is still out. How long has it been out, and how long until it gets repaired?
One of the escalators is out, as well. How long has it been out, and how long until it gets repaired?
By the time these towers be completed, I probably won't need to apply, I will be an older senior citizen looking for a nursing home, SMH
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