Water main and sewer work coming this summer on Dean Street from Sixth to Vanderbilt avenues, then up Carlton and Vanderbilt. Should last a year.

Get ready for Dean Street between Sixth and Vanderbilt avenues to be torn up this summer--though it seems to be associated with ongoing construction on the southeast block of Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park, not any possible new construction over the railyard.

As indicated on the NYCityMap, "PARK PROJECT PHASE II," a $5+ million project from the Department of Environmental Protection, involves "SEWER INSTALLATION AND WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT IN DEAN STREET BETWEEN 6TH AVENUE AND VANDERBILT AVENUE, ETC."

Dean Street neighbors recently received a message from the city's Department of Design and Construction, after being referred by Community Board 8.

"This project is tentatively scheduled to begin construction late summer 2022 (subject to change depending on weather and field conditions)," they were told.

The goal

From the notice:

The purpose of the project is to (1) upgrade sewer sizes to provide residents in the newly constructed buildings with sufficient capacity for sanitary discharge and to convey storm water from the area, (2) to install new distribution water mains to help with peak demands, (3) to improve the sizing of distribution water mains, and (4) to improve fire protection in the area.

The reference to "newly constructed buildings" suggests that this refers to the completion of B12 and B13 (615 Dean St. and 595 Dean St.), which are supposed to be completed by next summer.

Boundaries of work

The work will extend past Dean Street up Vanderbilt Avenue to Atlantic Avenue, and up Carlton Avenue ot Pacific Street:

The project locations/scope is (1) a new 48" combined sewer in Dean St. between 6th Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue, and Vanderbilt Avenue between Dean Street and Pacific Street, (2) new 8", 12", and 20" distribution water mains in Dean Street between Carlton Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue, Vanderbilt Avenue between Dean Street and Atlantic Avenue, and Carlton Avenue between Dean Street and Pacific Street.

When the project begins, the city will assign a Community Construction Liaison, who will distribute, via email and door-to-door, advisories, weekly construction activity newsletters, and 72-hour and 24-hour (confirmation or cancellation) advisories for work impacts. 

Nearly two weeks ago, I asked the Department of Design and Construction for further information, such as how long and now extensively streets would shut down and what the work hours would be. If/when I learn more, I'll post an update. 

(That said, if "[e]very single communication from a city agency.... must be approved by City Hall, Mayor Eric Adams has instructed administration staff," Politico reported 4/4/22, we may be waiting a while. Presumably more information will surface, at minimum, closer to the construction start time.)

 

Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park, of course, is a state project, and this is the kind of thing that Empire State Development, the state authority that oversees/shepherds the project, should be telling residents about.