Fate of PS 133 Still Undecided; How You Can Help
(Article with many thanks to SJ Avery)
On Tuesday, the City Council Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting & Maritime Uses held a public hearing on the School Construction Authority’s proposed plan to demolish PS 133 and replaced is with a larger building that will take up the top of the block between Butler and Baltic Streets in Park Slope, Brooklyn. In their brief presentation the SCA stressed the deterioration of the existing building (admitting that it had received little funding for upkeep) and estimated that it would cost $15 million dollars to “simply address the deterioration of critical building components”. SCA called the building, Brooklyn’s oldest remaining Snyder School, “quaint” and “lovely,” but deteriorated.
The SCA representatives’ accounts of the “public approval process” completely contradicted the experiences of the local community members. In their presentation they omitted their requirement that the community formally request public documents regarding the site’s environmental conditions through a Freedom of Information Law request, an unnecessary and time-consuming loophole. They obscured the proposed “separate, but equal” educational programs (and entrances!) for Districts 13 and 15, though previous presentations made by the SCA made specific reference to these aspects of the plan. They touted their consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) on options for preserving the school, neglecting to mention their refusal to provide the detailed cost/benefit analyses the SHPO has been requesting since December. And the SCA claimed to have consulted for months with local stakeholders about the school design, though in reality no direct communication has been initiated and only two public hearings have been held, with all public comments limited to three minutes.
Councilmembers present questioned the seemingly unequal programming structure for District 15 versus 13, the SCA’s plans for remediation of hazardous conditions, the environmental protections for area residents during demolition and construction, and the differences in cost between full demolition versus renovation with an addition (the SCA says the difference is about $10 million, but had no figures to support that claim).
Thirty people testified at the hearing, and all but one opposed the plan. Speakers represented a remarkable coalition of community and civic groups, preservationists, area residents, gardeners, a parent from PS 133, lawyers, and environmental scientists and activists – all united in opposition to the SCA plan. The 660 people who have signed the online petition to save the school are also part of that coalition.
Opponents of the plan ask that the SCA withdraw their current proposal and work with a broad and representative group in the community to develop a plan that would: 1) preserve and renovate the existing historic PS 133 building while also developing another school building on the site that accommodates the need for increased school seats; 2) ensure the health and safety of students, teachers and the larger community by fully disclosing the environmental data and risks associated with the contamination on the school site and designing a remediation plan that complies with New York State environmental law and involves NYS oversight; and 3) balance the need for open space and a permanent community garden.
The Councilmembers indicated that they saw no problem with a delay, but also told opponents that Council courtesy dictates that they would not go against the wishes of the Councilmember in whose district the school would be built – in this case CM David Yassky. Unfortunately, while acknowledging a flawed process of community consultation, Yassky continues to indicate that he wants the SCA plan to move forward as is.
The vote has been delayed until this upcoming Tuesday, June 30. Please contact CM Yassky today and urge him to do the right thing – withdraw his support of the SCA plan. Remind him of the significant community opposition to the SCA plan!
CM Yassky Email: [email protected]
District office phone: 718-875-5200
District office fax: 718-643-6620
CMs DeBlasio and James oppose the plan (students in both of their districts would be affected by the proposal), but have not lobbied their colleagues to vote against the plan. Please contact their offices and urge that they send “Dear Colleague” letters to their fellow council members, outlining their opposition to the SCA plan.
CM Bill DeBlasio Email: [email protected]
District office phone: 718-854-9791
District office fax: 718-854-1146
CM Letitia James Email: [email protected]
District office Phone: 718-260-9191
District office fax: 718-260-9099
CM Gonzalez, whose constituents will also be served by the school, has not yet spoken out on the plan. Urge her to oppose the current SCA plan, as so many of her constituents have.
CM Sara Gonzalez Email: [email protected]
District office phone: 718-439-9012
District office fax: 718-439-9042
There is a very small window left to prevent a plan that is so wrong, on so many levels, from becoming a reality. If you oppose the SCA plan, please ACT NOW!