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Duarte Square school plans show rooftop play area; CB2 pushes Parks and SCA for clarity
Summary
Community Board 2 members said May 19 they were concerned new schematic plans for the Duarte Square public school show a rooftop playground rather than the ground‑level play area shown in the 2012 rezoning renderings. Board members requested a parks briefing and flagged side‑letter promises for gym and community spaces in earlier agreements.
Members of Manhattan Community Board 2 on May 19 raised concerns after learning new plans for the Duarte Square school show a rooftop play area rather than the ground‑floor playground shown in earlier rezoning materials.
Janine, who chairs the board's education committee, said the Duarte Square School that emerged from the Hudson Square rezoning is "moving forward" and that preliminary plans may be presented in June or July. She told the committee that recent public drawings show what she described as a "fifth or sixth floor playground" instead of the ground‑floor play area depicted in 2012 renderings.
"The renderings... showed a Ground Floor playground. And the plans that were on YIMBY and have been released to the public show a fifth or sixth floor playground," Janine said, adding that the rooftop plan would be a much smaller toddler play area of roughly 3,000 square feet and likely would not serve the elementary school population expected to attend.
Why it matters: the community board said a ground‑level play area was part of expectations negotiated during the Hudson Square rezoning and could serve children who will attend the new school. Janine said the new school is expected to serve about 445 students; community board members warned that vaulting the play area to an upper floor would change access, supervision and usage patterns.
Board members asked Parks and the School Construction Authority (SCA) for a timely briefing. Janine said she had contacted SCA staff and the school's consultant; Mike Bridal at the School Construction Authority was cited as a staff contact who may present schematic plans. The committee also noted a side‑letter agreement and restrictive declaration from the rezoning process that describe commitments: Janine and other speakers referenced a side‑letter dated March 12, 2013 that, according to board materials, included promises of a double‑height 6,300‑square‑foot gym, a 3,500‑square‑foot multipurpose assembly space and a 2,100‑square‑foot multipurpose area, with separate entrances on Varick Street.
Board members suggested writing to Parks and asking Steve Simon or a Parks representative to explain changes to the design, and flagged that some earlier promises — including ground‑level play space and separate community‑use entrances — should be documented and clarified before designs are finalized.
What’s next: Parks committee chair Rich said he would invite SCA or Parks staff to present updates; Janine said the school and SCA may have schematics in June or July and that the board could submit a letter describing the community's concerns.
