The Board of Standards and Appeals finally rejected the Chapin expansion and denied those greedy zoning variances. We forced them to back down and preserved the skyline of our neighborhood. Keep your eyes sharp because we will be watching them like a hawk to ensure they do not try this …
November 12, 2015
Final supporters
We represent the community of residents on East 84th Street, East End Avenue, Gracie Square and nearby, who collectively oppose the Chapin School construction plans to build another vertical addition and rooftop athletic field. We ask the New York Board of Standards and Appeals to REJECT the Chapin request for four zoning variances, protect the interests of our community, and ensure the quality of life of our serene, green residential quarter.
The community suffered through a recent longterm Chapin construction project that severely diminished the quality of life of residents for more than four years and resulted in a glaringly unattractive addition, incongruous with the aesthetics of the area and surrounding buildings. This neighborhood was never meant for the expansion and encroachment of a private school. Chapin has created the situation for which it now seeks relief by increasing enrollment beyond what the space was intended for, from 661 students to 751 after the four-year 2010 construction project, and a 32% increase since 1989. The new Chapin construction project will yield an unsightly all-glass addition with a rooftop mesh surround that will permanently degrade the skyline of East End Avenue and will ensure an increase in noise, crowds, and traffic. Community Board 8 overwhelmingly voted against the addition. The projected construction also means:
•The quality of life for residents will once again be diminished as a result of a major construction apparatus and after-hours work going on for over 4 years;
•After-hours noise, dirt and general disruption taking place for more than four years will result in untenable living conditions;
•Our low-rise zone serves as a gateway to Carl Schurz Park. A longterm construction project will affect park access, ambience and enjoyment, as the new addition will cast long shadows over sections of the park as well.
The current cafeteria construction project has involved the removal of beautiful sidewalk trees, has entailed unrelenting 24/7 workdays, has reduced a section of East 84th Street to one lane and has occupied half the block as a perpetual loading dock.
Adding the Chapin project to other nearby construction sites - such as East End Avenue and 80th Street, the promenade revitalization, anticipated projects at 83rd and East End for the Brearley School and at 86th Street and York Avenue - will further congest the area and add to environmental hazards.
Chapin needs to do what other private schools have done: find a second location off-site to house its athletic facility, supplemental classrooms and administrative and fundraising offices.
Unified in our opposition to the Chapin addition, for these reasons and many others, we ask the Board of Standards and Appeals to uphold our rights as residents of the area - as affirmed by Community Board 8 - to a decent quality of life, unmolested by the expansionist goals of a wealthy private school benefitting a privileged few with zero public gain and immense public hardship.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
September 27, 2015
September 7, 2015
The massive surge of support proves that we are done letting Chapin treat our neighborhood like their private construction zone. The Board of Standards and Appeals better look at these names and realize we have no intention of backing down.
Reached 100 supporters
August 3, 2015
78 Comments
Our apartment is at end of the terrace directly exposed to the work in back of Chapin School. The worst part of the noise is not the machinery; it's the constant yelling, fighting and swearing amongst the workers. It is very loud and goes on from early morning into the evening.
Shadow on adjacent buildings is a big quality of life issue. The congestion from the larger Chapin will overload East End Ave which was never meant to have this volume of traffic.
Chapin has already doubled the size of their school with their previous expansion which inconvenioused the neighborhood badly. They have obviously outgrown the building and should seek other locations for their school. This plan will negatively impact the neighborhood. Please deny this application!
The school cannot handle the traffic already involved with the current school. The fire alarms go off monthly. This is often a poor neighbor. Let them show they can handle their current responsibilities before making it worse.
I am a co-owner of a coop apartment on E84th St. The proposed plans of the school would create a building totally out of character with the quiet, lovely neighborhood in which it sits. It is a mistake by any measure.
Chapin should be a better member of the community and listen to local residents.
looking to connect with Lisa Paula and Cyntis Kramer in their project to deal with coming massive East End Ave. construction projects as reported in DNA NY recentluy.
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The Board of Standards and Appeals finally rejected the Chapin expansion and denied those greedy zoning variances. We forced them to back down and preserved the skyline of our neighborhood. Keep your eyes sharp because we will be watching them like a hawk to ensure they do not try this …
November 12, 2015
Final supporters
We represent the community of residents on East 84th Street, East End Avenue, Gracie Square and nearby, who collectively oppose the Chapin School construction plans to build another vertical addition and rooftop athletic field. We ask the New York Board of Standards and Appeals to REJECT the Chapin request for four zoning variances, protect the interests of our community, and ensure the quality of life of our serene, green residential quarter.
The community suffered through a recent longterm Chapin construction project that severely diminished the quality of life of residents for more than four years and resulted in a glaringly unattractive addition, incongruous with the aesthetics of the area and surrounding buildings. This neighborhood was never meant for the expansion and encroachment of a private school. Chapin has created the situation for which it now seeks relief by increasing enrollment beyond what the space was intended for, from 661 students to 751 after the four-year 2010 construction project, and a 32% increase since 1989. The new Chapin construction project will yield an unsightly all-glass addition with a rooftop mesh surround that will permanently degrade the skyline of East End Avenue and will ensure an increase in noise, crowds, and traffic. Community Board 8 overwhelmingly voted against the addition. The projected construction also means:
•The quality of life for residents will once again be diminished as a result of a major construction apparatus and after-hours work going on for over 4 years;
•After-hours noise, dirt and general disruption taking place for more than four years will result in untenable living conditions;
•Our low-rise zone serves as a gateway to Carl Schurz Park. A longterm construction project will affect park access, ambience and enjoyment, as the new addition will cast long shadows over sections of the park as well.
The current cafeteria construction project has involved the removal of beautiful sidewalk trees, has entailed unrelenting 24/7 workdays, has reduced a section of East 84th Street to one lane and has occupied half the block as a perpetual loading dock.
Adding the Chapin project to other nearby construction sites - such as East End Avenue and 80th Street, the promenade revitalization, anticipated projects at 83rd and East End for the Brearley School and at 86th Street and York Avenue - will further congest the area and add to environmental hazards.
Chapin needs to do what other private schools have done: find a second location off-site to house its athletic facility, supplemental classrooms and administrative and fundraising offices.
Unified in our opposition to the Chapin addition, for these reasons and many others, we ask the Board of Standards and Appeals to uphold our rights as residents of the area - as affirmed by Community Board 8 - to a decent quality of life, unmolested by the expansionist goals of a wealthy private school benefitting a privileged few with zero public gain and immense public hardship.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
September 27, 2015
September 7, 2015
The massive surge of support proves that we are done letting Chapin treat our neighborhood like their private construction zone. The Board of Standards and Appeals better look at these names and realize we have no intention of backing down.
Reached 100 supporters
August 3, 2015
78 Comments
Chapin's iconic and historical building has already been marred by the addition of floors in a different and unattractive style. In addition, it will deface the neighborhood to add so much more height to the building. I strongly oppose.
Our apartment is at end of the terrace directly exposed to the work in back of Chapin School. The worst part of the noise is not the machinery; it's the constant yelling, fighting and swearing amongst the workers. It is very loud and goes on from early morning into the evening.
Shadow on adjacent buildings is a big quality of life issue. The congestion from the larger Chapin will overload East End Ave which was never meant to have this volume of traffic.
Chapin has already doubled the size of their school with their previous expansion which inconvenioused the neighborhood badly. They have obviously outgrown the building and should seek other locations for their school. This plan will negatively impact the neighborhood. Please deny this application!
The school cannot handle the traffic already involved with the current school. The fire alarms go off monthly. This is often a poor neighbor. Let them show they can handle their current responsibilities before making it worse.
I am a co-owner of a coop apartment on E84th St. The proposed plans of the school would create a building totally out of character with the quiet, lovely neighborhood in which it sits. It is a mistake by any measure.
Chapin should be a better member of the community and listen to local residents.
looking to connect with Lisa Paula and Cyntis Kramer in their project to deal with coming massive East End Ave. construction projects as reported in DNA NY recentluy.
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Chapin's iconic and historical building has already been marred by the addition of floors in a different and unattractive style. In addition, it will deface the neighborhood to add so much more height to the building. I strongly oppose.