Brookdale Site CB6 Update April 1, 2015
Summary Timeline / Process How does DSNY operate now? Garage project and frequently asked questions Project facts Impact to emergency vehicle access Traffic congestion Security/safety Health / Air Quality Alternative locations Parcels A& B 2
Timeline
Process
How does DSNY operate now?
DSNY Background DSNY temporarily vacates E. 73 rd Street garage/incinerator which is demolished to build new garage, but City cut funding for construction in 2009. Hunter wanted to develop a modern nursing school facility as well as locate closer to its main campus and near Memorial Sloan Kettering / other hospitals for partnership opportunities. The CUNY/MSK building is moving forward on E. 73 rd St. As part of that agreement, DSNY will receive ~$200M towards the construction of a new garage. Sanitation serves CDs 6 and 8 from over-capacity facilities in Manhattan CDs 4 and 12 and Bronx CD 1; trucks are forced to park on streets. 3 6
MN CD12 is over capacity with vehicles parking on the street CD 12 currently houses MN12, BX 7/8 and M8 Garages and W. 215th St salt shed. M8 operations are partially in former incinerator with equipment mostly parked on W. 215 th St. M8 Equipment must travel 7 miles through traffic to reach the required service area. ~7 mile distance Bx 7 & 8 7
Street sweepers must travel from the Bronx to serve Manhattan Street sweepers (mechanical brooms) must drive from Bronx CD 1 through the Manhattan East Side to clean Manhattan CD s 3, 6, 8. Increased travel time causes inefficiencies and wear and tear on equipment. 8
CD6 equipment stored in MN CD4 and must travel crosstown Garage operations are located in leased space on W. 30 th St; and W. 29th St. Equipment is parked on 11 th Ave, W. 28 th St and W. 29 th St; close to Hudson Yard Yards Development. DSNY must relocate due to landlord s plans for site and development within the Hudson Yards area; interim location TBD. Trucks and salt spreaders must travel cross-town to serve CD6, resulting in increased travel time and inefficiencies, particularly in snow emergencies. 9
Garage project facts and frequently asked questions
Current design Located mid-block between E. 25th St. and Bellevue private drive (former E. 26th St). ~450,000 gross sf (350,000 zoning sf). Four major vehicle stories; roof height varies from 120 ft. to 136 ft. Office space located on E. 25 th St Vehicle entrances on Bellevue Drive and Bellevue Drive widened to reduce conflicts Facility is designed to avoid noise impacts with enclosed glass walls Small opportunity for ground floor retail / community facility The preliminary design received approval by the Public Design Commission on October 20,2014. 11 E. 25 th St View
How will the project impact emergency vehicle access to the neighborhood s medical facilities, schools, residential buildings? Mid-block construction selected in order to avoid conflict with current EMS and OCME All truck queuing occurs within the facility DSNY vehicle entrance/exit to Bellevue Drive (former E. 26 th Street) is designed to eliminate any conflict with pedestrian bridge for residents and children / students crossing at E. 25 th St. 12
Original design Significant changes from original design included in Draft scope of work for draft EIS Building length increased by 20 to allow lower building height (5 to 4 major vehicle levels Eliminated personal vehicle entrance on 25 th St. except for emergencies Eliminated building overhang above Bellevue Drive 13
What will be stored in the garage? Will it be a security/safety risk? No salt will be stored at the facility Facility will include electric vehicle chargers, biodiesel and gasoline fuel storage (~35K gallons, comparable to neighboring hospitals) Will not become a Waste Transfer Station in the future Facility designed to be safe for 500-year flood event. 14
Initial comments DSNY has considered the large number of comments received on the previous Draft Scope for the EIS The visioning process includes a response to some of the comments for the development of the Brookdale site Parcels A & B Most comments addressed similar themes or were requests for information 15
The City should plan the entire site at one time After much discussion internally and externally, the environmental review and permitting process will include the full Brookdale site. Planning for the whole site will extend DSNY s timeline by 4 additional years. Parcels A & B 16
What are basic project facts? In the updated proposal, the garage will accommodate: ~270 workers 3 shifts: 12AM 8 AM 6 AM 2 PM* Peak shift 4 PM 12 AM Brooms: 7 AM 3 PM DSNY employees must respond quickly to winter emergencies While the site is transit accessible, employee parking is provided as a security measure. ~168 pieces of equipment assigned to garage 80 collection trucks 88 miscellaneous equipment EZ Packs Mechanical brooms Salt spreaders Fleet vehicles An average of 63 trucks and brooms are in transit per day 17
Will the truck traffic make congestion worse? M6 equipment already travels on streets in CD6; on a peak day: 26 collection trucks 13 mechanical brooms Vehicles enter/exit via Bellevue drive; may adjust signal timing on 1 st Avenue Placing vehicle entrance 200 feet from corner of 1 st Ave helps avoid traffic impacts Traffic will be carefully studied with DOT based on actual and projected traffic counts Initial scope included 16 proposed intersections for analysis (as shown to the right). 18
Will the project have health and air quality impacts? With the new E. 91st Street Marine Transfer Station serving Districts 6 and 8, DSNY trucks will dump refuse on shift, and return empty DSNY s Green Fleet of trucks has very low emissions, comparable to natural gas trucks. Ultra-low sulfur biodiesel fuel, advanced filters. Most light duty vehicles are electric or hybrids. 19
Did DSNY look at alternative locations? CB6 proposed two alternatives through their recent planning process. A feasible alternative for DSNY would include: Ability to promote efficient operations Proximity to truck routes Financial feasibility for the City (construction and acquisition if applicable) 20
Initial response BFJ proposed Con Ed site alternative Significant challenges: Con Edison has no plans to sell the property, and prefers to maintain existing property rather than sell City cannot condemn land from a utility No funding for acquisition or additional Con Edison garage Significant time required to acquire/redesign facility; DSNY currently without needed space Entire site in 100 year flood plain increases risk 21
Initial response BFJ proposed below-grade alternative Significant challenges: Building code has been updated to require occupancies of emergency responders to be constructed flood safe: higher than the base flood elevation. Multi-level underground storage of vehicles would require a costly bathtub and ventilation snorkels through uses above. DSNY truck storage requires a 24-30 ft floor-to-floor height; not met here. Fails to accommodate both CD 6 and 8 equipment; E. 91 st St MTS currently in CD8. Limits potential range of uses on Parcels A and B. 22
View from East 25 th Street 23 Former E. 26 th St. View
View along East 25 th Street Pedestrian Experience
Development Parcels A and B
Local Priorities 197(a) Local priority issues (197-a and public meeting discussions) Permanent low and moderate income affordable housing Institutional/community uses compatible with scientific and hospital uses Tower-on-base zoning to maintain street walls Ground floor retail on First Ave Improved open space access 26
Local Priorities District Needs CB6 highlighted: Concerns about garage location Concerns about frequency of garbage pickup Ongoing need for affordable housing Support for biotech and medical related uses within the district 27
Local Priorities BFJ Proposal CB 6 proposal highlighted: Institutional uses Potential high school Open space Senior housing Option for market rate housing 28
City Priorities for Site Key Administration policy initiatives: East Side Life Sciences Innovation District, Housing New York plan Opportunity for affordable housing, life sciences/wet lab space, and/or community facility on Parcels A and B, particularly reexamining potential density Parcels A and B need to be self-sustaining (internal cross-subsidy) and compatible with DSNY garage 29