Community Board 10 watching school repairs with watchful eye

September 25, 2017 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Work to improve the façade of P.S. 102 in Bay Ridge is underway, one of several construction and renovation projects taking place in schools in the community Board 10 area. Eagle photo by Paula Katinas

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Work has started on a major repair project at a Bay Ridge elementary school and Community Board 10’s district manager said the board will be monitoring the developments carefully to ensure that the construction doesn’t disturb residents living near the school.

Board 10 District Manager Josephine Beckmann said construction has begun on a project to refurbish the masonry exterior of P.S. 102 at 211 72nd St. Work isn’t expected to be completed until February 2019.

“Work is taking place after school hours with the permit granted until midnight, although loud work must end by 10:30 p.m. We will be monitoring this job as it relates to quality-of-life issues for surrounding residents as we have received several noise related complaints. If loud work does not end by 10:30 p.m., I would advise that residents log a complaint with 311 and advise the district office,” Beckmann told Board 10 at a meeting last week.

In recent years, Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights residents who live near public schools undergoing construction projects have been plagued with excessive noise late at night, dust particles flying through the air and other problems affecting their quality of life, Beckmann said.

Another current project involves roof repairs at McKinley Intermediate School at 7304 Fort Hamilton Parkway. “We have received several complaints of tar-like odors and I have talked to the SCA and we will be monitoring complaints,” Beckmann said, referring to the city’s School Construction Authority by its initials.

In her district manager’s report, Beckmann also mentioned a problematic repair project at Dyker Heights Intermediate School at 8010 12th Ave. “At long last, construction work is near completion,” she said.

During the two-year project, Dyker Heights residents had inundated Board 10 and Councilmember Vincent Gentile’s (D-Bay Ridge-Dyker Heights-Bensonhurst) office with complaints about late-night construction noise.

Beckmann also offered updates on other projects currently taking place in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights.

National Grid has been busy on Board 10 streets in recent weeks.

The utility company is upgrading its systems to comply with Local Law 30, a new city law that requires the utility company to install shut-off valves to help prevent gas leaks. “In addition to Local Law 30 work, there are several blocks that are undergoing new pipe installation. National Grid has informed us that they have hired an additional four contractors to help with Local Law 30 work,” Beckmann said.

The work has led to complaints from Bay Ridge residents about the slow process of the project, according to Beckmann.

“I want to explain that this is because Department of Transportation requirements were recently changed relating to the restoration of the trench. It is now a multistep process. The changes require that cements be poured before final asphalt is made to the trench. This will require more time from excavation to final restoration of open trenches,” Beckmann said.

Meanwhile, a water main replacement project continues in Dyker Heights with work being done along 12th and 13th avenues. The project, which began earlier this month, has led to water turnoffs and a shortage of parking spots on the streets where the work is taking place.

Beckmann said her office is working with the city’s Department of Design and Construction to mitigate problems relating to the project.

In other news, the city is pruning trees in Board 10. “Tree pruning is taking place in Community Board Ten. In addition, the NYC Tree and Sidewalks program is in our community board repairing sidewalks and expanding tree pits where tree roots have significantly raised the sidewalk. This has also brought us several complaints about sidewalk access and the duration of the work,” Beckmann told the board.

Beckmann said she had received a call from Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Martin Maher who informed her that a contractor has fenced off a larger footprint to begin work on the restoration of the 97th Street pedestrian ramp in Shore Road Park.

“It is not a simple job. NYC Parks is trying to explore a bypass option as the fenced off area has generated several community complaints. The bottom line is that there will be an accessible completed ramp within the year,” she said.

Another project, a $2.5 million contract to install a new synthetic turf and repave the entrance to Dyker Beach Park Soccer Field, has just begun. “It is expected to be completed within the year,” Beckmann said.

The soccer field is located on 14th Avenue between Bath and Benson avenues.