Archive

When in August 2011 plans for the installation of security bollards around Barclays Center submitted by FCRC to NYCDOT were made available to the public, AYW noted that the sidewalks as shown in the plans were in some cases significantly narrower than had been disclosed in the 2006 environmental analysis under which the Atlantic Yards project was approved. The photos above and below show the existing street corner as well as the sidewalk that extends from it along Atlantic Avenue, but the sidewalk will actually be two feet narrower at the time Barclays Center opens than it is in its existing condition.

According to ESDC Atlantic Yards Project Director Arana Hankin, the generators used for the rebuilding of the Carlton Avenue Bridge will not return to Pacific Street at Carlton Avenue "in the near future."  

Ms. Hankin informed us, "The generator was placed on the street because there was no space in the yard where the generator could have been placed to do the necessary work on the south abutment of the bridge.  If there is a need to use the generator in this area again, the contractors will be required to use noise attenuating blankets."

The generators were placed in that location without any noise attenuation, apparently in violation of the Amended Memorandum of Environmental Commitments.  The MEC details the use of noise barriers, equipment enclosures and perimeter fencing made of 3/4 inch plywood to mitigate noise impacts.  None of those measures were implemented in this case.  The generators were located approximately 50 feet from residences and only a short distance from the construction offices housing FCRC's contractors.

Generators adjacent to perimeter fencing across from residences, and the absence of barriers to shield the residences from the noise they generate, appear to violate both the spirit and the letter of the Amended Memorandum of Environmental Commitments. The generators are apparently being used to facilitate construction of the Carlton Avenue Bridge.  

They are situated directly across the street from residences on the north sidewalk of Pacific Street at the location of the Carlton Avenue Bridge.  They are in a highly visible location close to the construction offices and along the walking route between the construction offices and the arena construction site.  

A recent incident report declaims, "Their generator is making me crazy !!!!"  It asks, "Is there any way we can have them "plug" their damn equipment in instead of using the damn generator ALL DAY EVERYDAY?!?!!?  It is really starting to drive me nuts!"

A resident with a decibel reader registered 98 decibel level outdoors in the vicinity of one generator Saturday, December 17th at 6 pm.  According to the Guide to the NYC noise code, a train has a decibel level of 100dB(A) and a lawnmower has a decibel level of 85 to 90 dB(A).  The guide explains a decibel is a logarithmic unit, "which means that a noise measuring 30 decibels is actually 10 times louder than a noise that registering at 20 decibels."  A measurement of 45 dB is recommended indoors and should not exceed 65 dB.  Outdoor walls and windows are anticipated to reduce noise levels by 15 dB.  Residential units are located roughly 50 feet from the location of the generators.

For the last several weeks railyard flood lights installed in 2010 have been used to extend construction hours.  They have also been used intermittently during the very early morning hours either for construction or LIRR maintenance.  

The lights are bright enough to cast shadows to neighborhoods outside the project site.  The residents most impacted live at the same height as the light fixtures. One incident report describes the condition in some residences in 700 Pacific Street as blinding at night.

The construction alerts outline the use of the lights to extend construction work hours starting at 6:00 am and from dusk to 7:30 pm weekdays.  But incident reports state the lights sometimes come on at earlier times weekdays like 4:30 am and  5:00 am  and weekends at 6:30 am.  The construction alerts do not describe the lights being used during the weekend at all.  

It is unclear at this writing whether the work outside the construction hours detailed in the construction alerts is associated with LIRR operation or with construction. Although the full yard is illuminated, often the work taking place is by a small number of workers in one location.  According to nearby residents, the lights have been turned on more frequently in the early mornings recently than in the past.  This coincides with the announcement in the construction alerts the lights would be used for construction.