Q&A
Addressing the impact of construction on Metro Baptist Church
1:12:53
·
6 min
Council Member Bottcher raises concerns about the impact of the Port Authority Bus Terminal project on Metro Baptist Church. Port Authority representatives discuss their approach to mitigating these impacts.
- Port Authority cannot commit to providing elevator access for the church due to budget constraints and project scope
- Contractors will be required to take precautions to minimize impacts on the church and its services
- Mitigation measures for the church's stained glass windows will be implemented
- The impact on the church's rooftop farm is considered minimal, but Port Authority will continue to work with the church on this issue
Erik D. Bottcher
1:12:53
I understand that the surface lots are critical for your mission.
1:13:00
I, generally speaking, don't think that there should be surface parking lots in Manhattan.
1:13:08
Anything that you need that space for could be done, could be incorporated into a future building, and you could arguably get even better facilities in the base of the future building.
1:13:22
I look forward to discussing with you over the next few days what kind of how we can codify to the best extent possible the the provision of affordable housing in these identified lots.
1:13:42
Metro Baptist Church on fortieth Street at 410 West fortieth Street is a critical
Kevin Riley
1:13:51
community
Erik D. Bottcher
1:13:52
asset, with that provides social and community service programs to approximately 13,000 persons annually, homeless meals and toiletries distribution, clothes closet.
1:14:06
They've got a rooftop vegetable farm and community supported agriculture.
1:14:08
It also houses office and meeting space for immigrant and LGBTQ youth groups along with a pre k head start program operated by the Hudson Guild.
1:14:25
It is going to be, affected by this project, both during the construction, but also after having, I believe, some of the lot line windows will be covered by this, and the, rooftop will be shadowed by the new, terminal.
1:14:46
What will you commit to doing for Metro Baptist Church?
1:14:52
We've requested, elevator access for the church.
1:14:58
Let's talk to me about what you're prepared to commit to today for Metro Baptist Church.
Hersh Parekh
1:15:09
So the, the request, related to, accessibility improvements within Metro Baptist Church is unfortunately not something that we can, commit to, for a number of reasons.
1:15:21
It is outside the scope of our project.
1:15:23
It is outside the budget of our project, which, as I described, is already, very tight, and does not even account for potential, cost overruns, which are not all that uncommon on projects of this size and and complexity.
1:15:39
So, with that type of complex project, in terms of accessibility at historic facility like Metro Baptist Church, it is not something that we are able to undertake.
1:15:48
But what we are, what we do expect is that we will require our contractors to take all precautions to ensure that, facilities, structures like Metro Baptist, that are especially as in close proximity as as they are to our to our project site, that, every effort is undertaken to avoid any impact to not just their physical structure, but also to the, all the different users that, you know, receive services or other programming at that facility.
1:16:25
That is of paramount importance, and that is something that we will be working with Metro Baptist to ensure that ongoing accessibility, by those users.
1:16:34
In terms of the impact on the some of the stained glass windows, of the church, that is something that was also reviewed as part of the environmental impact statement, and there is a, a commitment that we have made to ensure that there is there are measures taken to, mitigate the impacts on those stained glass windows, and there are a number of different options that we are considering, and that will be done in collaboration with Metro Baptist in regards to, to those windows.
1:17:03
In regards to the, the rooftop farm that that you mentioned, I know my colleague, Glenn, has been up there maybe more than once, and we understand that it is a vital resource, for the community, based on the analysis in the EIS.
1:17:22
While there will be an impact, it was not determined to be an impact that required any, any type of of mitigation because of the minimal impact.
1:17:31
And so, we don't anticipate any specific, steps to, address that issue.
1:17:38
But let me also see if Glenn has anything he'd like to add on this topic.
Glenn Guzzi
1:17:43
Other than as we progress through the project, one thing that, Hirsch touched on, but did just a little more detail prior to the commencement of construction, properties within a particular distance from each phase would we would request the right of entry to conduct a precondition survey in terms of, looking at the foundations of the buildings, the structural integrity of the buildings, the existing conditions.
1:18:08
Those engineer reports would be shared with the property owners, so that they have something to look at and be able to use if they feel that something occurred.
1:18:18
So, there would be a resource for them to be able to say, Hey, this was our condition prior to commencing the project, and here's what it looks like today.
1:18:27
In terms of the rooftop, we'll continue to work with them in terms of you know, this would probably be really at the end of phase 1, when the storage and staging structure is complete, to look at, really, what is the impact to shadow on the roof while going through the Section 106 process, the historic preservation process.
1:18:47
The impact was considered to be minimal.
1:18:49
We'll always, you know, keep an open ear in mind to if anything, you know, could be done.
1:18:55
And as Hirsch did indicate, I did go up there and planted a few seeds and picked a few vegetables over the years.
1:19:03
And the good news about the rooftop garden, I actually think of myself as a farmer, is that it's not actually planted in soil.
1:19:13
You know, they're planted in
Erik D. Bottcher
1:19:14
Baby tubs.
1:19:15
Yeah.
UNKNOWN
1:19:16
Baby tubs.
1:19:16
That can
Kevin Riley
1:19:16
be moved
Glenn Guzzi
1:19:16
around, which is convenient.
1:19:18
So we'll work work with them on that.
Erik D. Bottcher
1:19:20
Okay.
