Brooklyn officials urge relocating 3 Downtown Brooklyn schools to new Pacific Park site

Restler: Will add new middle school options to growing District 13

December 28, 2023 Mary Frost

Middle school M.S. 915 is currently co-located on the George Westinghouse campus at 105 Johnson St., fronting on Tillary Street, seen here. Photo: Mary Frost/Brooklyn Eagle

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DOWNTOWN/PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Local Brooklyn officials are coming out in strong support of a proposal to relocate several cramped Downtown Brooklyn schools into a new, 26-story residential building at 491 Dean St. in Pacific Park, near Barclays Center.

These include M.S. 915, a middle school currently co-located with two high schools in the George Westinghouse campus, at 105 Johnson St. and fronting on Tillary Street.

Another is the Design Works High School, which is presently co-located with a growing elementary school at 424 Albee Square West.

Another school listed by DOE for possible relocation is P369K, a small school for students with special needs, also currently located at the Westinghouse site.

Officials who represent families in District 13 say these schools, which serve diverse populations including kids with IEPs, lack facilities like gym space and cafeterias.

“One of the top concerns that I hear from public school families in our community is the lack of middle school options,” Councilmember Lincoln Restler told the Brooklyn Eagle. “I’m thrilled that the proposed relocation of M.S. 915 and Design Works High School to the brand new Pacific Park campus will provide more excellent public school seats for our families.”

Restler added that the plan will also finally create space for a new elementary school to open at Albee Square West, “fulfilling a commitment from the Downtown Brooklyn rezoning from nearly twenty years ago.”

If the co-locations are approved, kids at the new site would have access to a cafeteria, “gymatorium” and full gymnasium, outdoor play yard, rooftop play yard, science room and library.

Officials hope to relocate several District 13 schools into a new, 26-story residential building at 491 Dean St. in Pacific Park, near Barclay’s Center. Photo: Google Maps

Letter: P.E. in a classroom at Westinghouse

In a letter to First Deputy Schools Chancellor Daniel Weisberg, the eight elected officials — including Restler and Councilmembers Crystal Hudson, Chi Ossé, and Shahana Hanif; Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez; state Senators Andrew Gounardes and Jabari Brisport; and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon — wrote that M.S. 915 currently maximizes “every square inch and even uses a classroom for dance and physical fitness, because there is inadequate space for gym. They also lack access to an auditorium.”

The officials also boosted the new Design Works High School. “This nascent partnership between Bank Street College and Pratt Institute is a compelling new high school option for our families. Pratt, in particular, is rooted in District 13 and has strong community connections. We are hoping this new high school will bring more diverse Brooklynites into design professions.”

District 13 middle school admissions criteria has eliminated screens and guarantees at least 57% of slots are reserved for low-income families or students living in temporary housing, a policy the officials backed in their letter.

The new school site is listed as having 616 seats.

A joint hearing will be held on Jan. 22, and the PEP is expected to vote on these proposals on Feb. 24. For more information, click here.