From the latest Construction Update: one sidewalk shed may be removed on Dean Street and open space work may start. Platform work still depends on permits.

The latest Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Construction Update (bottom), covering the two weeks beginning Monday, Aug. 8, was circulated 8/5/22 at 10:51 pm (lead time) by Empire State Development (ESD) after preparation by Greenland Forest City Partners (GFCP), which is dominated by Greenland USA.

There's not much new compared to the previous update, and the document again excludes the most dramatic change around the project footprint--the work at the arena plaza for revamping of the pavement and other features. 

The one notable change regards work on the southeast block, at the B12/B13 (615 Dean St./595 Dean St.) sites:

The removal of the West Courtyard Sidewalk Shed (the north half of the sidewalk shed located between the West tower of 595 Dean St. and 535 Carlton Ave. may be scheduled for the week of 8/15/22. Courtyard fencing between East tower [615 Dean St.] and 550 Vanderbilt Ave. as well as the West tower and 535 Carlton Ave. may be installed so that the build out of the open space can start. All work scheduled will be coordinated with the adjacent properties accordingly. 

Only when work at the two new buildings is completed can the open space between each and the adjacent finished buildings be expanded. 

Still, the lion's share of the open space relies on the completion of the second block of platform work and the transformation of demapped Pacific Street, between Carlton and Vanderbilt avenues, into open space.

Sixth Ave. and Pacific St., Aug. 5, 2022

Platform work may start

For some three months, they've suggested that the preparatory stage of platform work--crucial to three of the six towers over the Vanderbilt Yard--will finally start, but it still requires, as stated permits to constrain sidewalk access and traffic around the block bounded by Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Street and by Sixth and Carlton Avenues. 

That's the first block of platform work. As shown in the photo (right) that I took yesterday, they still haven't removed parking from Pacific Street between Sixth and Carlton avenues, as planned.

That raises a question: is this bureaucratic sloth, or has the developer not filed paperwork with the appropriate amount of detail.

Pending receipt of all necessary permits, Platform MPT [maintenance and protection of traffic] erection and site mobilization is expected to begin. MPT erection will occur at the street level surrounding Block 1120, resulting in sidewalk closure. Site work will occur in the Bump Area and will include excavation and SOE [support of excavation] installation, in addition foundation work under the 6th Ave. Bridge will commence during this reporting period. .

The work will occur at the street level around Block 1120, which is bounded by Sixth and Carlton avenues, and Pacific Street and Atlantic Avenue. Work is expected from 7 am to 3 pm on weekdays.

B45 bus stop; Aug 5, 2022

Again, the MTA's MTA B45 bus stop at Atlantic and Sixth avenues will be temporarily suspended; the next active bus stop is at Carlton and Atlantic avenues. However, as shown in the photo I took yesterday, at right, the stop has not been decommissioned.

Utility work pending/continuing/completed

Also, utility work is both continuing and pending at the southeast block of the site. As previously predicted multiple times, Con Ed may be on site to install interconnection feeder cables between vaults. 

RCN is yet again expected to pull new fiber optic cables on Dean Street, but the exact start time/date and duration for this work has not yet been confirmed. Verizon and Altice have already installed new cables, but will advise if any additional work is required.

After-hours work continues; again incorrect

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 on the southeast block, the document accurately says there's variance for work to start at 6 am on weekdays. It also says "Saturday work from 9 AM – 5 PM will continue."

As with months of previous updates, the variance for today is 9 am to 5:30 pm. That continues a pattern. They--GFCP and site developer TF Cornerstone--just don't care about getting it right; nor does ESD check. The future Saturday variances are not yet public.