Construction of middle school finally starts today, at base of B15 (aka Plank Road); main work should take two years, but 2025 opening still seems best bet

Construction on the interior of the long-awaited Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park middle school, known as I.S. 653, is finally starting today, according to the School Construction Authority (SCA), and should take two years. 

Sixth Ave. entrance, July 26, 2022

The school sits at the base (five-six floors, plus underground) of the completed 662 Pacific Street (B15, aka Plank Road) residential tower, just east of Sixth Avenue, between Pacific and Dean streets. The school likely will have a 491 Dean Street address.

Though no opening date has been announced, and that theoretically leaves a chance for a fall 2024 opening, I'd bet that with system tests and other preparatory work, it won't be ready until 2025, which is the current date on the SCA's schedule.

That schedule, as I recently reported, indicated a construction start in July, not August, and completion in March 2025. 

The builders of B15 created the school's core and shell, while the SCA completes the creation of the school.

No, the SCA didn't issue a press release or a tweet (yet), but the information was shared Friday by Plank Road management, with current residents, who will surely notice the 9 am to 5 pm weekly construction schedule.

There was no mention in most recent Construction Update, covering last week and this, issued by Empire State Development, the state authority overseeing the project, which typically passes on information shared by the master developer, Greenland Forest City Partners. This project is out of their purview, but it shouldn't be too difficult to coordinate.

From the notice

Residents were told that  "Management is working closely with the SCA to minimize the impact on residents as much as possible."

Work begins today on an initial phase of the project on the third floor, with the primary phase of work scheduled to start sometime in September.

Part of Sixth Avenue will be used as a staging and unloading area. 

"As with any construction project, this work will generate a certain amount of unavoidable noise," according to the notice. "However, whenever loud noise producing work is scheduled, Management will provide residents with as much advance notice as possible."

How much will that interfere with Work From Home? Stay tuned.