At meeting, no answers to big questions about project; leasing proceeds at B15, with sidewalk work coming in spring; update on loading docks at B12/B13, including for Chelsea Piers
This is the second of two articles about the Jan. 25 Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Quality of Life meeting, held by Empire State Development (ESD), which oversees/shepherds the project. The first concerned the unresolved whistling noise from B3.
Beyond discussion of the perplexing whistling noise coming from 38 Sixth Avenue, the meeting was brief and uneventful.
There were no updates about the big questions regarding the project: plans to build the first phase of the two-block platform over the Vanderbilt Yard; plans to meet the 2025 affordable housing requirement; plans to shift bulk from the unbuilt tower once planned to loom over the arena to Site 5, longtime home to Modell’s and P.C. Richard.
Only 16 people attended the meeting, including state Sen. Jabari Brisport, and representatives from the offices of Rep. Yvette Clarke and Council Member Crystal Hudson. It lasted about 36 minutes. The format, in which attendees can't see each other, speak, or read the chat, also tamps down participation.
On the arena block
Greenland USA rep Scott Solish said that about 100 of the 336 units at B15 (662 Pacific St., aka Plank Road) were occupied. The lottery for the 94 middle-income affordable units has closed, and those applications are being processed.
Site work is continuing but repaving work on Sixth Avenue can’t happen until warmer weather in the spring.
Though B4 (18 Sixth Ave., aka Brooklyn Crossing) is still being finished, the “first resident is now living in the building,” Solish said. The lottery is ongoing for 258 middle-income affordable units, part of a building with about 860 apartments.
The removal of an exterior hoist has started, and should be finished around the beginning of March, allowing for completion of the adjacent slice of facade.
On the southeast block
On the southeast block of the project, TF Cornerstone, according to rep Amir Stein, is on track to complete B12 and B13 (615 Dean St. & 595 Dean St.) by mid-2023.
Beyond discussion of the perplexing whistling noise coming from 38 Sixth Avenue, the meeting was brief and uneventful.
There were no updates about the big questions regarding the project: plans to build the first phase of the two-block platform over the Vanderbilt Yard; plans to meet the 2025 affordable housing requirement; plans to shift bulk from the unbuilt tower once planned to loom over the arena to Site 5, longtime home to Modell’s and P.C. Richard.
Only 16 people attended the meeting, including state Sen. Jabari Brisport, and representatives from the offices of Rep. Yvette Clarke and Council Member Crystal Hudson. It lasted about 36 minutes. The format, in which attendees can't see each other, speak, or read the chat, also tamps down participation.
On the arena block
Greenland USA rep Scott Solish said that about 100 of the 336 units at B15 (662 Pacific St., aka Plank Road) were occupied. The lottery for the 94 middle-income affordable units has closed, and those applications are being processed.
Site work is continuing but repaving work on Sixth Avenue can’t happen until warmer weather in the spring.
Though B4 (18 Sixth Ave., aka Brooklyn Crossing) is still being finished, the “first resident is now living in the building,” Solish said. The lottery is ongoing for 258 middle-income affordable units, part of a building with about 860 apartments.
The removal of an exterior hoist has started, and should be finished around the beginning of March, allowing for completion of the adjacent slice of facade.
 |
| Screenshot from presentation |
On the southeast block of the project, TF Cornerstone, according to rep Amir Stein, is on track to complete B12 and B13 (615 Dean St. & 595 Dean St.) by mid-2023.
The buildings have topped out, as shown in the image at right.
Despite announcements of expected utility work, involving Con Edison, National Grid, and others, he said he had no update, as they’re waiting for notifications.
Asked about the loading docks by the North Prospect Heights Association, Stein said the loading dock at B12 will be used for trash compactors and recycling for the residential portions of the (dual) building, allowing the Department of Sanitation to back trucks in and directly pick up the waste from the trash compactors.
That prevents trash from being left out on the street. The loading dock at B13 will be used solely by Chelsea Piers, which is building a large fitness center and fieldhouse below grade, for their deliveries and trash removal.
The implication, unstated, is that it will be a busy street.
Asked if a loading zone on Dean Street will be required, Stein said “it's very likely that a loading zone will be required adjacent to the loading docks at B12 and B13.” That hasn’t been applied for yet, however.
He said they had no information about the affordability of the 30% affordable units at those towers, but all indications are that they’ll be aimed at middle-income households, as with Brooklyn Crossing and Plank Road.
Other questions
Solish, in response to a question, said that more trees can’t be planted on Sixth Avenue because of limitations caused by the Sixth Avenue Bridge and adjacent infrastructure.
Asked if ESD was aware of the ongoing Crossroads series by BrooklynSpeaks, aiming to improve the project, and if it had any responses, Tobi Jaiyesimi, the authority's Atlantic Yards Project Director, said they were aware of the discussions.
“We don't have any responses to them at the moment,” she said, “but are happy to be able to engage BrooklynSpeaks and also to engage other members of the community with regards to the project.”
There are no updates with regards to the redesign of Times Plaza, which is supposed to supply open space. “The developer remains in ongoing discussions with the Department of Transportation,” Jaiyesimi said.
Despite announcements of expected utility work, involving Con Edison, National Grid, and others, he said he had no update, as they’re waiting for notifications.
Asked about the loading docks by the North Prospect Heights Association, Stein said the loading dock at B12 will be used for trash compactors and recycling for the residential portions of the (dual) building, allowing the Department of Sanitation to back trucks in and directly pick up the waste from the trash compactors.
That prevents trash from being left out on the street. The loading dock at B13 will be used solely by Chelsea Piers, which is building a large fitness center and fieldhouse below grade, for their deliveries and trash removal.
The implication, unstated, is that it will be a busy street.
Asked if a loading zone on Dean Street will be required, Stein said “it's very likely that a loading zone will be required adjacent to the loading docks at B12 and B13.” That hasn’t been applied for yet, however.
He said they had no information about the affordability of the 30% affordable units at those towers, but all indications are that they’ll be aimed at middle-income households, as with Brooklyn Crossing and Plank Road.
Other questions
Solish, in response to a question, said that more trees can’t be planted on Sixth Avenue because of limitations caused by the Sixth Avenue Bridge and adjacent infrastructure.
Asked if ESD was aware of the ongoing Crossroads series by BrooklynSpeaks, aiming to improve the project, and if it had any responses, Tobi Jaiyesimi, the authority's Atlantic Yards Project Director, said they were aware of the discussions.
“We don't have any responses to them at the moment,” she said, “but are happy to be able to engage BrooklynSpeaks and also to engage other members of the community with regards to the project.”
There are no updates with regards to the redesign of Times Plaza, which is supposed to supply open space. “The developer remains in ongoing discussions with the Department of Transportation,” Jaiyesimi said.
Asked if Dean Street between Sixth and Carlton avenue would be blocked off during the day for teacher parking when the middle-school at B15 opens, Jaiyesimi said that discussions about school-related issues would be be facilitated through the Department of Education. (She said their latest info was that the school would open in 2024, but the School Construction Authority says 2025.)
Asked about the vacancy levels in the project, Solish said that the two affordable building, 38 Sixth Ave. and 535 Carlton Ave., are close to 100% leased, and though he couldn’t speak for 461 Dean St., which is owned by a different company, that building is between 95 and 100% leased.
He didn’t mention the condo building 550 Vanderbilt Ave., of which many units are rented out by owners. According to StreetEasy, four units are up for rent.
Arena update
Barclays Center spokeswoman Mandy Gutmann told the group the arena was having a big night, given the sole visit from the Los Angeles Lakers, part of the Chinese New Year celebration. (As it happened, the atmosphere, with a lot of Lakers fans present, apparently felt like a road game.)
Asked about the vacancy levels in the project, Solish said that the two affordable building, 38 Sixth Ave. and 535 Carlton Ave., are close to 100% leased, and though he couldn’t speak for 461 Dean St., which is owned by a different company, that building is between 95 and 100% leased.
He didn’t mention the condo building 550 Vanderbilt Ave., of which many units are rented out by owners. According to StreetEasy, four units are up for rent.
Arena update
Barclays Center spokeswoman Mandy Gutmann told the group the arena was having a big night, given the sole visit from the Los Angeles Lakers, part of the Chinese New Year celebration. (As it happened, the atmosphere, with a lot of Lakers fans present, apparently felt like a road game.)
She also said the arena would feature Black-owned businesses and Black luminaries during Black History Month programming next month.
At a District 13 CEC meeting a couple weeks ago, a rep from the DOE made a presentation and said the Pacific Park school would not be ready to open until 2026. Also, looking at school age student population in the presentation, it seemed that middle school general ed seat demands are declining and projected to continue to decline in D13. The DOE rep seemed to suggest that District 75 seat needs were increasing on the other hand, and the suggestion seemed to be that how to fill new seats would be a question answered closer to the opening of any new schools.
ReplyDeleteIt's troubling, though not shocking, to learn that the school opening date may be pushed back even further. City/state officials have not been forthcoming about the school plans, and the opening date has steadily slipped.
Delete