Senator Golden: School Construction Authority Will Not Utilize Residential Property as They Build New Brooklyn School

Martin J. Golden

January 19, 2011

Brooklyn – State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn is announcing that the New York City School Construction Authority has notified the four homeowners of the 300 Block of 72nd Street, in the immediate vicinity of the construction site of the future P.S. 331, that the designer and contractor are able to construct the school without having to enter their properties.

Senator Marty Golden stated, “I am glad to see the School Construction Authority will be able to start and conclude the construction of a new school while respecting the property of the homeowners adjacent to the construction site. I commend the School Construction Authority for not only listening, but responding, to the legitimate concerns of the homeowners. There is not, and never was, an attempt to deny the need to build a new school, but some issues did have to be addressed.”

Senator Golden continued “Having been in regular conversations with both the School Construction Authority and the homeowners, I understood the concerns of both parties. I am glad that a final decision which appeals to both sides, and keeps the project on schedule, has been made. I look forward to the opening of this new school and the addition of new classroom seats to School District 20 so to reduce overcrowding in neighboring schools. The construction and opening of the new Public School 331 will surely be welcomed by all.”

Public School 331 is to be built at the corner of 4th Avenue and Ovington Avenue. The school is scheduled to be open by September 2012.

Senator Golden was a leader in the passage of legislation in 2006 that approved $6.5 billion for school construction for New York City. School construction projects that have been completed since include extensions at P.S. 163, P.S. 229, I.S. 259 and New Utrecht High School, and construction of new schools and additions are ongoing throughout the district at this time.