Proposed School Hearing on Tuesday

We wrote about the proposed new school for District 22 (covering Ditmas Park/Flatbush) a few months back. The project seems to be on track to bring the neighborhood a much needed, new K-8 school to be located on the west side of Coney Island Avenue between Turner and Hinckley places, a school for some 700 students, expected to open in 2014.

(sketch by our neighbor, not DoE, based on what was presented at last hearing)

The next public hearing, this time with the City Council's Landmark Committee will take place this Tuesday, March 15th at 11:00 am in the 16th Floor Hearing Room at 250 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.

This is the time to bring to attention both how much we need a new school (and a new middle school option), as well as any concerns you might have about the design (why is the yard in the back? Can the design be improved? How can we minimize the impact on surrounding neighborhood. Ask to see plans for dealing with school buses, and improving Coney Island Avenue.)

It is not terribly clear as to how much weight neighbors actually have on the decision to put a school at any given location, but the least that can be done is to have them go over the design and look at what can be improved. It seems quite clear that the playground should not be on the E8th street side but on the CIA, and that not much thought has been given to the impact of busses and parents dropping kids off and picking them up during rush hours on an already busy road, which is also a truck route.

If you have strong feelings, suggestions, want your comments on the record, and can't attend the meeting in person, please take a minute and email Councilmember Eugene with your thoughts on this school. His email is mathieu.eugene@council.nyc.gov.

Please contact Councilmember Eugene's office (district borders are odd, so if you reside surrounding the proposed school side you are actually represented by Eugene, not Lander, who is representing everyone else west of CIA)  if you have any questions about the school site or wish to bring any other matter to their attention.

Councilmember Eugene's letter on the public hearing on proposed school site (click on the link). Contact details:

(212) 788-7352

(718) 287-8762

mathieu.eugene@council.nyc.gov