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March 27, 2009
PS 133
Did any of the Brownstoners get a picture of the design for the new PS 133 unveiled last night (it is massive). It would be really helpful if a talented photoshopper could add 1200 people(900 kids and what is probably an underestimation of 300 people taking their kids to school - this is a preK - to 5th grade school) to the two entrances (Baltic and 4th, and Butler and 4th. There are no setbacks in the design - it's hard to imagine how this is going to work. The size of the school is so out of scale with the area, but those architectural renderings never show real traffic - pedestrian or on the the street.
Thanks
PS 133
Did any Brownstoneer reader get a picture of the new PS 133 Building unveiled at the Community Board meeting last night - and could you post it? It would be absolutely great if a photoshopper could then add the 1,200 people (900 kids and kind guestimate of maybe 300 parents bringing their kids to school - this is a preK - 5 school)who will be going into the two entrances on Butler and 4th and Baltic and 4th.
Thanks
Author's Comments
MM - your posts are a joy to read. Thanks for all the detail that goes into them
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at November 12, 2009 12:15 PM in response to Walkabout: MW Morris- the Commissions Cometh
Just when you think this boondoggle can't get worse, there is yet another $55 million of public funds (really needed in other parts of the community)going into the Atlantic Yards sink hole. I've lost the ability to laugh at this disaster. And yes, that model showing a sprinkling of cars on Atlantic and Flatbush is sheer fiction.
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at November 2, 2009 11:43 AM in response to Uncertainty, Skepticism Around Arena Bond Offering
Great idea - much easier that trying to go through old posts to find services. But I'd also like to see the capacity to have specific recommendations or comments on product/services. A great website does not a great company make.
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at October 7, 2009 10:32 AM in response to Brownstoner Directory Launches
So you must have seen the Times article today about the "murderous" Prospect Park swans - are these the same?
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at September 30, 2009 7:39 PM in response to Wednesday Blogwrap
Simply wonderful, informative posts. Thanks so much
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at September 22, 2009 10:49 AM in response to Walkabout with Montrose: All Things Luxurious
Oh dear, and I thought it couldn’t get much worse than Yassky. Brooklyn Chicken is on the mark - the real winner in the 33rd is someone venal and retaliatory who is focused on absolute power. It's telling that Levin (read Lopez) didn't even bother to answer the HDC/League of Preservation Voter’s questionnaire – much less show up for many of the public debates. The only consolation this morning is the opportunity to vote against Yassky again in the runoff. I really think the Levin win is scarier than an absent councilmember.
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at September 16, 2009 11:59 AM in response to Democratic Primary Results
Many, many thanks BrooklynGreen and Montrose Morris
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at September 2, 2009 10:40 PM in response to Muggings in Fort Greene
"And Tish James is not a communist. Even if she was, so what? The people in her district are lucky they have representation that is out there 24/7, fighting for her constituents. You may or may not agree with her on everything, I happen to disagree on Admiral's Row, but I greatly admire her energy, dedication, and hard work. Would that all of our politicians worked half as hard. I wish she covered my part of Crown Heights, instead of Al Vann(ished)."
I feel exactly the same way - only I'm suffering with "sell-out-at-a-drop-of-the-hat Yassky". How he ever got the Times endorsement is a mystery.
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at September 2, 2009 3:17 PM in response to Muggings in Fort Greene
"Building looks nice to me. Classic black brick. Nice punch of yellow around the large windows. Beats the crap out of most of new construction I see." Thanks, DitmasSnark - although that doesn't take much on 4th Ave.
"What exactly were you expecting on the ground floor of a school...a head shop and babeland...?"
Huh??? so those are the options to streetwall?
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at August 27, 2009 4:39 PM in response to Sunset Park Finally Getting Its Own High School
Hmmm - could we talk about the building for a minute? Maybe it's the picture (I haven't seen the actual building) - but it doesn't look so great to me - more like another boring box and more street wall. Was it an SCA building or did somebody else do it?
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at August 27, 2009 3:25 PM in response to Sunset Park Finally Getting Its Own High School
You could also check out http://habitatmap.org
or
The sites will also give you some community resources
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at August 6, 2009 3:08 PM in response to Toxicity Problems on Properties
What makes matters even worse, besides the wretched program and the fact that the SCA minimized environmental issues, is that they gave totally distorted numbers for a renovation scenario. For just about the cost of demolition, they could have restored the existing school and built an annex. It’s a crime, not a shame.
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at July 2, 2009 10:36 AM in response to City Council Vote Seals P.S. 133's Fate
The budget information was verified by speaking to staffers on the Council's Education Committee.
The biggest problem with dealing with "authorities" are that they were designed to streamline action - perhaps a great intention, but accountablily has suffered. Trying to interact with the SCA is like talking to the Red Queen - their words mean what they say they mean. So community consultation means that they make a presentation and joe or jane public gets to give a 3 minute comment. Not what I would call consultation.
On the issue of appropriate steps re environmental safety, the SCA says that they have a plan and they are capable of monitering the site (of course, they don't say what the plan is since it is mostly the responsibility of contractors). They say that is enough. However, they were successfully sued in the Bronx for not having a good plan and not bringing in the state DEC in a timely manner.
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at June 24, 2009 6:12 PM in response to Council Subcommittee Hears Case of PS 133
G man - one of the biggest issues is developing a plan for remediation of hazardous ground conditions at the site - To quote from one environmentalist who looked at the SCA’s description of the site - “the discovery of a volatile organic compound plume (such as TCE or PCE) under a school site should trigger full characterization, remedy evaluation, remedy implementation, and long-term site management. This should be done before construction, both to protect the building's occupants (students, faculty, and staff) and because construction could interfere with investigation and cleanup. As at the other sites, it should be done under the oversight of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). It is state (DEC and DOH) policy that mitigation (depressurization) is not enough. Cleanup is required at such sites.” A good start would be releasing the source documents the SCA used in its site analysis.
The SCA also has not provided any analysis of costs comparing renovation and building an annex compared to their plan for total demolition and building a much larger school.
And the money is as safe as it can be – opponents to the plan have confirmed that the plan for the school is considered to be underway (since some funds have been spent on design and site review) – money budgeted for the plan will stay in place after June 30th. The SCA had uses the “we will lose the money” argument, but as with so many of their other statements, it simply is not true.
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at June 24, 2009 12:52 PM in response to Council Subcommittee Hears Case of PS 133
That sure seems to be what the SCA/DOE have in mind
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at June 24, 2009 10:19 AM in response to Council Subcommittee Hears Case of PS 133
It will be the temporary home to PS 133 students - the SCA entered into negotiations to use it because their original plan (build a new school while the kids were still at PS 133) was so insane.
NK makes a really good point - if it were available as a school, the SCA wouldn't be putting all of it's energy into tearing down PS 133 ( the oldest Synder school in Brooklyn) and building that huge box.
Hearing on the SCA plan on Tuesday - clips at 11
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at June 22, 2009 11:05 PM in response to What's Going on at St. Thomas Aquinas?
Ah, Montrose,(as always)you put it so well. Let me add that the Atlantic Yards fiasco highlights the need to put some real teeth into the concept of "community benefit" agreements. We are long past the point where they should be unenforceable carrots used to buy off community organizations (real or imagined) and create the illusion of community support. Instead, when the government (city, state or federal) subsidizes the projects of private developers, there should be real community benefits (housing, public space, etc) as part of the negotiated agreement – not payoffs for support. It would help keep the time frame for the completion of “community benefits” from being pushed to the end of the development line – if not ignored completely.
For the life of me, I can’t understand the anger at DDDB – they haven’t gotten a dime of the huge amount of subsidies that have already gone into the pockets of the developer. If one is going to be angry, why not be angry at the people who lied – not the people who have been saying all along that the emperor has no clothes, and trying to stop the funneling of tax dollars into corporate pockets.
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at June 11, 2009 10:59 AM in response to Ratner Cans Gehry For Good
What’s missing in that artistic rendering are figures of pedestrians, down on their knees in grateful prayer after having survived one of the worst street crossings in Brooklyn
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at May 28, 2009 9:39 PM in response to Development Watch: Atlantic Terminal Station
Prezst - Absolutely not true - if you read the second page you will see that the request for donations has nothing to do with the project - it's really clear that the i-petitions website is asking for support for their site. The people behind the project (and I'm one of them) are not requesting any financial support - just signatures
By the time you get to the second page, your signature has already been recorden - all you have to do to get off the site is close it. This was the only site we could find for on-line petitions - and the on line petition is nothing to be ashamed of.
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at May 26, 2009 10:11 AM in response to PS 133's Most Desperate Hour
It is interesting to note that, in his latest newsletter, Yassky comes out against the Dock Street site and chastises the SCA for “not exercising due diligence” and notes that it seems “intent on pursuing the (project) without doing their homework.” He ends with a stirring plea that “government must renew its commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency”.
Sadly, he does not hold the SCA to this same standard when it comes to the PS 133 project – which will result in the destruction of one of the few buildings of historic significance on 4th Avenue, and create an environmental nightmare for local residents. He full supports the primary PS 133 plan and has not been open to any discussions of alternatives that would include restoration of the old school and new building that could create needed seats.
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at May 20, 2009 10:57 AM in response to Council Vote Approaching, Dock Street Debate Crescendos
Re paying respects to the old building - the best way to do that would be not to tear it down.
The schematic is a bit deceptive - the slight "homage" to the sytle of the old building (a nod to the peaks) is only really visible from 4th avenue at ground level - on sidewalk and housing window level for the blocks behind it (between 4th and 5th) it is just another big box - and one that is going to bring a heck of a lot of traffic onto a smaller than one block square area. Of course, the SCA's enviornmental study says that half of the kids (pre K through 5) will be walking to school - interesting, since about 500 wil be from district 15 (not 13, where the school is located)
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at April 30, 2009 10:38 PM in response to New PS 133 Plans Revealed
Depending on the dryness of the basement, I would suggest thinking about using cork - a solution I used in my basement and one that has worked out very well. In addition to being a renewable resource, using cork avoids the coldness of tiles (and hasn't needed any heating element under the cork) and it insulates well. The floor has been down for about 4 years and I haven't had any problems with it.
(My basement is not a high traffic area - it is used primarily for guest space, so your planned use might make a difference.)
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at March 27, 2009 11:44 AM in response to finished basement floor
Not for nothing, but there is a plan for that site - and a very nice one at that, developed in collaboration with community residents and folks from Pratt. I don't know where the mock up and drawings are now, but they were in a storefront close to the site.
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at March 25, 2009 12:58 PM in response to Gehry Says He Thinks Yards Won't Get Built, Then Hedges
Installing a new flap on the inside was exactly what I did with my front door, and it worked pretty well this winter - the mailman was able to get the mail through without difficulty
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at March 19, 2009 6:35 PM in response to Old drafty mail slot
Thanks, NOP, for the great link showing that it is possible to preserve old structures while accommodating new functions.
With respect to the idea that a value in this plan is that the kids can stay in school while a school is built around them, you really have to look at the site plan – the new school structure pretty much abuts the existing school
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at March 16, 2009 5:42 PM in response to SCA To Build New P.S. 133, Tear Down Old Building
There are more issues at stake here than simply preserving a lovely building, which I wish could be done.
As a 25 year resident of Butler Street, I am very concerned that he proposed construction will totally change the look and feel of the two streets (Butler and Baltic) adjacent to the existing school. These two streets, which have kept a residential feel despite the ugly boxes being built on 4th Avenue, will now have a building - as tall as the existing school - that massively intrudes on both streets. If you look at the footprint of the site, understand that the space fronting Butler, 4th, and Baltic will no longer be open space – but will have a solid, massive square structure.
As was correctly noted, the current school serves District 13 – which is where it is located. The expanded school (it goes from 300 seats to 900 seats) is being built to serve the needs of District 15, which has supposedly run out of building sites. There will be two schools in the new site – one for District 13 and one for District 15 – which will “share” certain facilities – such as the cafeteria and gym and playground. It remains to be seen how much the much smaller District 13 school will benefit from this “sharing” – in some schools it has been done successfully, in other schools, not so much. As a local resident, I am certainly supportive of initiatives that will improve my district schools, but I’m not at all sure that this will be the case for PS 133.
There are a host of other problems associated with the proposed new school. The main entrance will be on Baltic – which is one of the few through streets from Cobble Hill (Court Street) to Park Slope (5th Avenue) – it is already a pretty well trafficked street. The thought of the bus traffic that will be necessary to bring in 500 to 600 new kids is staggering. Baltic Street has already seen its share of problems because of streams that run under it – just imagine what will happen with additional traffic. Anyone who walks along 4th Avenue between Butler and Baltic knows that the storm drains on both corners frequently overflow.
Then there is the problem of actual construction. Again, look at the site plan. The old school is supposed to remain until the new school is build – it’s hard to understand where construction equipment and supplies will be located once the foundations are dug. The new school is very, very close to the old school – the SCA has never done construction in such a tight space – and there are certainly concerns about dust and noise affecting the classrooms (the building is not air conditioned and the windows are open in warm weather) – as well as the impact on the homes adjacent to the new construction site! In it’s zeal to build big, the SCA has itself in a very tight corner. The preliminary borings they made to test the ground rattled some of the houses on Baltic.
One of the most distressing things about the whole process has been how the SCA and DOE have completely ignored the local community. While there has been a limited amount of discussion with the community gardeners, limited e-mails in no way should be considered as neighborhood discussion. The SCA has resolutely refused to share design ideas with neighborhood residents – they seem to feel that keeping a few of the existing gates will distract us from the massiveness of the project. They have also stonewalled CB 6, only giving them the foot-print of the site (at least to date) for review prior to the public hearing.
At a point in time where there is a lot of discussion about the lack of Board of Education responsiveness to community needs and input, this ill conceived plan is a perfect example of riding roughshod over a community to achieve goals set by paper pushers in Long Island City who have no feel for, or apparent interest in, local neighborhoods.
I hope that people will come to the meeting on the 18th to help my community figure out ways to avoid a disastrous building project.
Posted by: Brooklyn Red at March 16, 2009 1:51 PM in response to SCA To Build New P.S. 133, Tear Down Old Building
Brooklyn Red wrote a review about Cousin John's Café & Bakery on November 13, 2009 5:20 PM
I went there faithfully, way back when it first opened - but rarely go there anymore, given what has seemed to me to be a decline in quality (or it could be that there are better options for baked goods now). The pies are good, but pricey - and I'm not a fan of their baked goods. Coffee is awful and the staffing is erratic, more typically with poor to indifferent service. Every so often I give it a try again, but generally regret the impulse. It is way too small for me to have ever considered having a sit down meal there.