From the latest Construction Update: preparatory (for development?) soil work on railyard block; sewer work on southeast block

The latest Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Construction Update (bottom), covering the two weeks beginning yesterday, Monday, Feb. 21, was circulated 2/18/22 at 5:33 pm (lead time) by Empire State Development (ESD) after preparation by Greenland Forest City Partners. 

There's a little different from the previous update, notably preparatory work at Block 1120 of the Vanderbilt Yard, between Sixth and Carlton avenues, which includes three future development sites. So this could be a sign that plans for B5--the first of those towers--are moving closer to reality.

The developer’s contractor, Roux, will conduct soil characterization work at the “bump-area” site--terra firma jutting south from Atlantic Avenue--on or about March 1. Work is expected to be completed in four days, including mobilization and drilling. The work hours will be approximately 7 am to 3 pm.

Utility work pending

Also, sewer and utility work is still pending at the southeast block of the site.

Metropolitan Sewers will be on site this week to begin the installation of manholes, piping and drainage structures on Pacific Street between Carlton and Vandervilt avenues. Staging of trucks and equipment will occur on Pacific Street, with no impact to traffic on Dean Street.

As previously predicted, Con Ed may be on site to install interconnection feeder cables between vaults; National Grid is expected to install a new high pressure gas main; Altice is expected to install new telecom conduits; and Verizon may install/pull new fiber optic cables on Dean St. These have been forecast several times, but apparently didn't happen. 

In fact, the document below states that Verizon may do the work "during the week of February 14," which indicates sloppiness on the part of the developer in sending the update, and sloppiness on the part of ESD in circulating it without question.

After-hours work continues; some misreported 

Regarding after-hours work at B4 (18 Sixth Ave.), the Construction Update accurately lists weekday work 5 am to 10 pm. Saturday work is listed accurately as 9 am to 5 pm. Sunday work can be the same hours, but there are no after-hours variances yet.

Regarding after-hours work at B12 & B13, the document accurately states weekday work hours are 6 am to 6 pm. It also says "Saturday work from 9 AM – 5 PM will continue."

Rather, this past Saturday's variance was again until 5:30 pm, continuing a pattern, representing a small but not unimportant advantage, and nondisclosure.