Official Statement From Hannah Senesh Day School Regarding Carroll Gardens Courtyard Expansion

As many of you no doubt already heard, Hannah Senesh Day School announced on Friday that they have decided not to pursue their proposed two-story expansion into the city-owned courtyard at the corner of Smith Street and First Place.

Below is the official statement by the school's lobbyist Ken Fisher:

Public Advocate Bill DiBlasio, City Council Member Brad Lander and the Hannah Senesh Community Day School announced today that the School has decided to pursue other space opportunities in Carroll Gardens and is not proceeding with plans to build on the adjacent courtyard.

The School had explored the possibility of such an expansion last year, including holding outreach meetings with community leaders and neighbors.

Said Board Chair Pam Kaplan: "Although we were encouraged by the support we received from then Council Member DiBlasio and the willingness of elected officials such Council Member Brad Lander and Assembly Member Joan Millman to review our proposal, we were also sensitive to the concerns of our neighbors. Over the past two months, our board has carefully considered our current needs and resources and has concluded that at present we should explore other alternatives."

Said Public Advocate DiBlasio: "I am pleased that the Hannah Senesh Day School has decided to come a resolution which works with the needs of the community. I support the decision to not infringe on the court yards will work closely with them on other opportunities to expand the school."

Said Council Member Lander: “I am very pleased with the decision by the Hannah Senesh Community Day School to withdraw their proposal to build on the courtyard. Many neighbors expressed strong feelings about the importance of preserving Carroll Gardens ' signature courtyards, and I very much appreciate that the Hannah Senesh leadership -- many of whom are also our neighbors -- took heed to those concerns. I was glad to play a role in helping neighbors hear each others' concerns, and I look forward to working with the school and the Carroll Gardens community to find ways for Hannah Senesh to continue to flourish and serve their students, and to preserve and strengthen what is great about this neighborhood.”

Said Assembly Member Millman: "I applaud the school for understanding the community’s concerns and deciding not to proceed with their proposed expansion. The courtyards are an integral part of Carroll Garden ’s charm and character and must be protected. I remain committed to identifying a potential solution which will meet the needs of both the community and the school."

Said Maria Pagano, President of the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association: " The Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association has welcomed the Hannah Senesh community to Carroll Gardens, enjoying a productive and hospitable relationship with the school administrators, Board and staff. The Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association applauds the Hannah Senesh community's decision to expand the school in some other way, rather than build in the courtyard facing First Place."

Added Ms. Kaplan: "While Hannah Senesh was conceived to be a small, quality institution, we know that we will need additional space in the future to provide the kind of educational experience for which we are known and will seek out such opportunities when available. We are, as a school, looking forward to being part of the Carroll Gardens community for many years to come."

About the School: Hannah Senesh Community Day School is a nationally recognized center of excellence in progressive Jewish education, serving a diverse community of children and their families from across the continuum of Jewish life. Founded in 1995, the school offers classes in the Kindergarten through 8th grades and moved into its current location in 2007.

Kenneth K. Fisher | Cozen O'Connor

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Breaking News! Hannah Senesh Day School Backs Off On Its Plans To Expand Onto Carroll Gardens Courtyard

160 Year-Old Protection
For Carroll Gardens' Courtyards Stands

I applaud the school for understanding the community’s concerns and deciding not to proceed with their proposed expansion. Their plan would have set a dangerous precedent. The courtyards are an integral part of Carroll Garden’s charm and character and must be protected. I remain committed to identifying a potential solution which will meet the needs of both the community and the school.

State Assemblywoman Joan Millman

In a just released letter to its parents, the Hannah Senesh Day School states that it will not pursue a highly controversial plan to expand into the courtyard next to its building at the corner of Smith Street and First Place.

In December 2009, the school had revealed its intention to construct a two-story addition onto the courtyard "to give the school more flexibility." The only problem was that the signature courtyards in Carroll Gardens are owned by the city and are protected by a 160-year-old law. The law states that the courtyards can not be used for parking, nor can they be built on.

The school's Board of Directors hired lawyer Ken Fisher to lobby city officials on the school's behalf for the "acquisition of a lot currently owned by the city of New York"

Out-going Councilman Bill De Blasio was more than willing to help out. Without community input, he intended to introduce a bill which would have altered the old law to exempt the courtyard on First Place at Smith Street, thereby paving the way for Hannah Senesh to then buy the city-owned land.

When this became known, Carroll Gardens activists organized, collected signatures and encouraged the community to send letters to elected officials. The prevalent feeling in Carroll Gardens was that no exceptions should be made and that the courtyards are such an integral part and unique feature of this neighborhood that everyone of them needs to be protected.

It is wonderful to hear that State Senator Daniel Squadron, State Assemblywoman Joan Millman and Councilman Brad Lander felt the same way. Daniel Squadron was the first to issue a statement against the courtyard extention.

It is not clear yet how the school intends to proceed. What is clear is that Hannah Senesh willingly agreed to buy a building that had VERY LIMITED POSSIBILITY TO EXPAND and signed an agreement that places a meriad number of restrictions on the building. (click here to see Acris site page 6 onward.)

The Hannah Senesh School shares the same building lot as developer Bill Stein's 360 Smith Street project . When Stein sold the property to Hannah Senesh Day School, he kept the Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) for himself and transferred it to his 360 Smith Street development to get extra height. He also used the school's Community Facility Bonus and used that to bulk up his building as well.

Also attached to the sales agreement between Bill Stein and Hannah Senesh Day School is a clause that would give Bill Stein half of any F.A.R. gained by an up-zoning of the lot.

What is also of concern is that Hannah Senesh has been unable so far to secure a permanent Certificate Of Occupancy for the building.

Moving forward, it may be more advantageous to the school to ditch lobbyist Ken Fisher, sit down with the community and be more forthcoming about its needs.



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After More Than Two Years, Still No Permanent Certificate Of Occupancy For Hannah Senesh Day School

Just issued Temporary Certificate Of Occupancy # 7

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Back in December 2009, the Board of Hannah Senesh Day School drew attention to itself when it revealed its plans for a two-story expansion onto the city-owned courtyard next to the school. However, Carroll Gardens' unique courtyards are protected by a 150-year-old law, which forbids anyone from building or parking on them.

With the help of lobbyist Ken Fisher, Hannah Senesh was able to convince then-Councilman Bill de Blasio that this was a good idea. In his last days as this community's public elected official, de Blasio was ready to introduce to the Council a bill which would have altered the law by exempting the courtyard on First Place at Smith Street.

When it became known, the plan met with tremendous opposition from the Carroll Gardens community. The overwhelming sentiment was clear: not even one of our signature courtyards can be lost.

Why Hannah Senesh Day School needs to expand so quickly after moving into the building in September 2007, is unclear. The Board's Vice-Chair, Amy Glosser, was quick to say that the school did not intend on growing its enrollment. Glosser stated that the expansion was "not about getting bigger, but about getting better."

Could there possibly be another reason why the school is pursuing the expansion?

Since Hannah Senesh moved into their new location at 342 Smith Street in the fall of 2007, the school building has not been issued a permanent Certificate of Occupancy by the New York City Buildings Department.

So far, seven Temporary Certificates have been issued. That is rather an unusual amount. Between T.C. # 6, which expired in September 2008 and T.C. # 7 issued in January 2010, the school did not have ANY permit.
How could this be?

On January 19, 2010, the Buildings Department presented the school with a list of 14 open items needed before a permanent C.of O. can be issued. Amongst those items is a final plumbing sign-off, a fire alarm/signal system sign-off and Place Of Assembly sign-off.

There is also a special notation that there would be no more issuance of Temporary Certificates without a review.

The Buildings Department, I have heard, gives special consideration to schools to ensure that they have all the correct permits in a timely fashion. Why then has it taken Hannah Senesh Day School so long to get a permanent one?
And more importantly, why was the school able to operate without even a temporary permit between the end of '08 and the beginning of '10?

Whatever the problem with the D.o.B, one has to wonder if the expansion is a must rather than a need.

And are the school's parents aware of any of this?




To read previous posts about Hannah Senesh expansion, click here

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*Carroll Gardens Organizes To Fight Assault On The Historical Integrity Of The Neighborhood

Speaking for the Committee To Improve Carroll Gardens at their December meeting on Monday, Land Use Co-Chair Glenn Kelly reiterated the organization's strong opposition to any modification to the 150-year-old law which protects the signature front gardens from development.

Hannah Senesh Day School, a private school which moved to 342 Smith Street in Carroll Gardens two years ago, seeks approval to build an extension to their facility on the city owned courtyard which runs along at the corner of Smith Street and First Place.

The school has hired lobbyist Ken Fisher to influence political opinion on the matter. We can expect Hannah Senesh to apply for a zoning variance and an amendment to the Administrative Code which will allow a transfer of city property to the school. Should their application meet with approval and proceed through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (U.L.U.R.P.,) Carroll Gardens will have to fight to keep its historical integrity and unique character intact.

CGNA had fought for decades to protect the front gardens. According to Glenn Kelly, the organization can therefore not support Hannah Senesh' s expansion.
Other neighborhood groups, such as C.O.R.D., have voiced their opposition as well.







Related Reading:

*Carroll Gardens Organizes To Fight Assault On The Historical Integrity Of The Neighborhood

*Bill De Blasio Courtyard Caper Delayed

*Carroll Gardens Protests "Bill": An Open Letter To De Blasio

*Dear Bill De Blasio: A Reader Strongly Protests

*In 2008, Hannah Senesh Paid Ken Fisher To Lobby For Acquisition Of Lot Currently Owned By City

*Will Bill And Brad Attend Hannah Senesh's 'Brief' Meeting About Expansion Into Publicly Owned Courtyard?

*Councilman 'Dollar Bill' De Blasio's Underhanded Move To Amend A 150-Year Old Law Angers Many In Carroll Gardens

*Breaking News! On His Way Out, Councilman Bill De Blasio Sticks It To Carroll Gardens



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Bill De Blasio Courtyard Caper Delayed

Last night, at the Hannah Senesh Day School

Lobbyist and Legal Council for Hannah Senesh: Ken Fisher

Tom Gray, representing Councilman Bill de Blasio's

Amy Glosser, Vice -Chair, Hannah Senesh Board Of Directors

Hannah Senesh's Architect Larry Horowitz

Hannah Senesh building with new addition as seen from First Place

Of course, Councilman Bill De Blasio was absent from last night's meeting at Hannah Senesh Day School to discuss the expansion of the private school into a city owned courtyard in Carroll Gardens.
De Blasio had intended to introduce a bill on December 9th that would compromised a 150-year-old law protecting our Carroll Gardens courtyards, by exempting the school's courtyard at the corner of Smith Street and First Place.


However, last night the community was told that De Blasio will not be introducing his bill at this City Council session. (I suppose the community's vocal opposition may have helped to change his mind.)

Instead, Councilman-elect Brad Lander made an announcement that early next year,
we can expect Hannah Senesh School to apply for a zoning variance and an amendment to the Administrative Code which will allow a transfer of city property to the school. Should their application meet with approval and proceed through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (U.L.U.R.P.,) Carroll Gardens will have to fight to keep its historical integrity and unique character intact.


Pardon me for asking, but I can't help wondering why the Board of Directors of Hannah Senesh would spend several years planning and millions of dollars buying and constructing a facility which did not meet their needs and which they outgrew in less than a year.

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Will Bill And Brad Attend Hannah Senesh's 'Brief' Meeting About Expansion Into Publicly Owned Courtyard?

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Thank you to the blog McBrooklyn for the great piece about the Hannah Senesh Day School expansion controversy and for revealing the fact that in 2008, the private school paid Attorney Kenneth Fisher** to lobby the Brooklyn Office Of City Planning, Office Of The Brooklyn Borough President, the New York City Council, the Office Of The Mayor and the Department of Transportation for the "Acquisition Of a Lot Currently Owned By The City Of New York."

**Fisher, you may remember, represented the developers of the Dock Street/Brooklyn Bridge/school development project.


Related Reading

Will Bill And Brad Attend Hannah Senesh's 'Brief' Meeting About Expansion Into Publicly Owned Courtyard?

Councilman 'Dollar Bill' De Blasio's Underhanded Move To Amend A 150-Year Old Law Angers Many In Carroll Gardens

Breaking News! On His Way Out, Councilman Bill De Blasio Sticks It To Carroll Gardens

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