A little more relief is on its way for Bay Ridge’s crowded schools.
The School Construction Authority is moving forward with the demolition of two existing buildings at 369 and 381 93rd Street, where a three-story Department of Education pre-kindergarten facility will be built, with a projected opening date of September, 2017.
The applications for demolition of the two structures, a medical center and a private home, were approved on July 27 by the city’s Department of Buildings.
The new school will hold eight classrooms with a total of 144 seats, according to Laurie Windsor, president of the District 20 Community Education Council, who noted that pre-k classrooms are designed to have space for “amenities” not found in classrooms for later grades, such as cubbies, a space for the kids to nap, play furniture and a sink.
“I think a really important piece of the site is that seats are needed in pre-k for that part of the district,” noted Windsor. “The whole district is bursting at the seams.”
Besides allowing children to attend pre-k potentially closer to home than they would should they be placed in a regular elementary school, said Windsor, the free-standing pre-k facilities also have the ability to “free up space in regular public schools.”
The siting of the pre-k facility on that particular block had been controversial, as the infamous Prince Hotel is down the block.
After neighbors turned out at a public hearing to voice their concerns about the proximity, Community Board 10 had voted to support the construction of the pre-k based on several conditions being met, including “rigorous enforcement” of illegal conditions and activities at the Prince Hotel, the performance of traffic and pedestrian safety studies because of worries about the narrowness and congested nature of the block, and keeping the board in the loop as design of the facility moved forward.
By press time, the DOE had not responded to a request for information.
SUNSET PARK — “As a resident of Marine Park, one of the great surprises I found biking around Industry City and visiting Japan Village was to discover Bush Terminal Park. I continue to be amazed at the serene hideaways that the city offers in some of the busiest places — and, still, with an iconic view.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — ‘A miracle that no one was killed …’ That’s what neighbors are saying about the collapse of the Hotel St. George marquee. Shown in this photograph are workmen beginning the removal and repair of the historic, old neon sign at the corner, referencing a relic of Brooklyn Heights’ past: the St. George Hotel.
ATLANTIC AVENUE — Exhausted shopper with cluster of bags and goods from mall at Boerum Place stops to look at huge construction site across the street. “Is that REALLY going to be a jail??” Her male companion is reassuring, “Nothing like Rikers … this is 21st Century.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Overheard in line at one of most popular pastry outlets on Montague Street: “Hope I can get them into a camp …” A mother with two pre-schoolers in tow was showing a friend the Dodge Y flyer for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18.
