The NYC School Construction Authority’s attempt to address Community Board 10’s complaints regarding the construction of P.S. 14’s annex, did not resolve any issues .
CB 10 received the responses to their concerns on Thursday, June 9.
Among the topics covered were the potential impact on Schneider-Sampson Park, the location of an onsite field office during the three-year project, and a traffic study of the streets surrounding the school.
“The school will have 21 new instructional spaces,” the SCA response stated, “to help alleviate existing over-utilization and accommodate anticipated growth in the community.”
The Waterbury LaSalle Community Association argues that the proposed addition is too large and is calling on SCA to halt the bidding until a traffic study can be conducted to measure the effect of the completed project on local roads, said WLCA board member Andrew Chirico.
“I would like to see their experts come up with something before construction begins,” said Chirico.
He said that parents picking up and dropping off students on Crosby Avenue, often create traffic tie-ups for a nearby firehouse and a supermarket, and that he expects the parking needs of construction-related vehicles to only intensify the problem.
The SCA responded to CB 10’s request for a traffic study of Crosby and Hollywood avenues and Bruckner Boulevard by stating that they have informed the NYC Department of Transportation of its plans.
Musano, herself an educator, said that she is opposed to the size of the project in part because children would have to endure three years of construction noise.
“That three years can really affect a child’s learning ability,” she said, adding that many students suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder or simply have trouble focusing, even when it is quiet.
The SCA stated that its “contractor will adhere to the requirements of the NYC Noise Code and other relevant statutes” and ensure that the contractor is made aware of any school-based activities.
The authority also stated that they would host regular meetings with its team, the school’s principal, and the United Federation of Teachers chapter president at the school as part of its protocol.
Bob Bieder, chairman of CB 10’s Youth and Education Committee, said that the plan had been presented to the District 8 Community Education Council when it was in its design phase, prior to it reaching CB 10.
“My personal feeling is once (the SCA) spent all this money and it is out to design, it is too late,” said Bieder, adding that issues related to parking and where the staging area for the project will be located will have to be worked out.
CB 10 district manager Kenneth Kearns said that the SCA is not a mayoral agency, but an ‘authority,’ and because of this they are not required to do outreach or speak to anyone other than agencies or elected officials.
The SCA meet regularly with Councilman James Vacca, who supports the project in its current form.
“We are trying to make SCA sensitive to the fact that they should talk to us as well,” he said, acknowledging the community’s questions and concerns.
