SCHEDULE C PLANS IN PROGRESS OR COMPLETED, BUT CONTRACTS NOT AWARDED-ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN Remarks When the original building of Public School 3 was destroyed by fire, the necessities for a large building in that neighborhood were so urgent that the new building was planned to cover the entire site, steps being taken at once to secure four lots adjoining on the north, upon which an assembly room could be constructed in the future. Money for this purpose has only recently become available, and after a study of the situation and conference with members of the Board who were familiar with local conditions, plans have been completed to provide for an auditorium, with the main entrance on Hudson street, while at the rear, on Grove street, there will be a kindergarten room, the roof thereof to be arranged for an outdoor playground, there being none for the school at the present time. Bids to be opened July 12, 1915. BOROUGH OF THE BRONX Plans will be ready for the July meeting of the Art Commission. The addition will occupy about one-half of the new plot, 100 ft. front by 95 ft. deep, that is to be acquired for the purpose. The addition will provide needed facilities to put the Gary programme into full operation. BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN The original proposition was to purchase the gore lots in the rear. This was abandoned, and site adjacent to and west of the building has been acquired. Larger building wanted, but, as there was little prospect of obtaining an additional appropriation just at this time, it was decided to proceed with the portion for which funds were available. Plans well advanced and will be ready for the July meeting of the Art Commission. 1 Baths Roof playground Gymnasium Drawing-room Sewing-room 1 1 Sub-basement, locker room and basement, iron foundry with cupola of 3/4 ton capacity; clay modeling with porcelain firing kiln, and swimming pool with locker rooms. First floor, shops. Second floor, lunchroom with service kitchen and domestic science room adjoining, separated by folding doors so they can be operated together; a model flat of three rooms and bath with one room for dressmaking. Third floor, gymnasium of two classroom units and three classrooms. Fourth floor, five classrooms. 16 752 26 45, Add. 189th and Hoffman sts. and Lorillard pl... 31 16 Wilson st., between Lee and Bedford avs.. $112,300 This is to provide an addition that will better adapt this, the first BOROUGH OF QUEENS Swimming pool and locker room in basement. Plans in Finance Department awaiting approval since May 5, 1915. 1 BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN 1 1 1 1 19 1,043 1 1 1 7 414 1 1 1 Plans and specifications for a building on the site at 68th street and 1st avenue, for which the sum of $715,000 was set aside by the Board of Approval was withheld and the plans returned March 26, 1914, owing to a decision to change the location to site at 73d and 74th streets and The plans and specifications for the removal of the rock which covers the site to a height of about twenty feet were filed with the Board of The plans were returned by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment late in January, 1915, "with the request that they be held until after Later, in a report on allowances for salaries of draughtsmen, the Bureau of Contract Supervision, upon whose recommendation the above The plans will provide in the basement for locker room, receiving room for goods, and space for heating plant. First floor: A store or salesroom of 45x67 feet, placed on the corner, with show windows on the street and avenue; adjacent is a public The main entrance is placed on 22d street and gives access not only to salesroom but to the basement locker rooms, and by means of broad Ninth floor: Restaurant with serving room and kitchen. The restaurant is also to be used for classes in design, since the tables and chairs In general lockers and toilets will be provided throughout, with facilities for obtaining drinking water and for washing the hands at frequent This completes the list of items for which Corporate Stock has been authorized. NEW BUILDINGS THAT WILL BE READY IN SEPTEMBER, 1915 Since January 1st last there has been an increase in school accommodations through the completion and occupation of the following: BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN Public School 97, Mangin and Houston streets BOROUGH OF THE BRONX Add. P. S. 21, 225th street and White Plains avenue 51, Trinity and Jackson avenues Public School 95, Yale and Harvard avenues, Jamaica Capacity 1869 490 1870 755 1532 1511 2096 805 94 94 The specifications for repairs and maintenance for the various school premises in each Borough have all been prepared in sufficient time to permit of the letting of contracts before the summer vacation. This is, of course, as it properly should be, but owing to unforeseen causes of delay there have been seasons when this has not been possible, with resultant unpleasant conditions at the time of school opening in September. We use the terms maintenance and repairs, but there is quite a large sum expended for what practically are betterments, or the correction of conditions due to faulty planning or construction, which, however, so far as stability or durability is concerned, would not require the expenditure of any funds. One phase of this work that we are carrying forward year by year and which is of great importance is that of affording increased natural lighting to classrooms in the older buildings through the removal of the large brick piers and the small windows, making the openings as large as structural conditions will permit, and the installation of new frames and sash. This is the only way that satisfactory results can be obtained, and should be carried on systematically year after year, until there shall have been included all rooms that could be possibly benefited by the reconstruction. Further improvement in natural lighting can be effected through the removal of the transoms and bar which were mistakenly introduced in some buildings. Under certain conditions they are of value perhaps in securing a change of air within the room without the unpleasant effects of draughts, but this is more than offset by the impossibility of placing adjustable shades or of keeping the glass clean. We are, therefore, confronted with the fact that we are shutting out a large proportion of the top light of the window which is the most valuable, since upon it depends the proper lighting of those portions of the room farthest away from the windows. There are other items of work which should be done not as repairs or maintenance, but in the way of improving the light and sanitary conditions. There can, however, be no special fund set aside for this or similar purposes, and we, therefore, owing to the steadily decreasing amounts which the financial authorities are able to grant, shall be obliged to proceed somewhat slowly. In 1904 we were granted a sum for maintenance and repairs equal to 2.7142 per cent. of the total accumulated cost of the school buildings and equipment -sites not included. This proportion was steadily reduced during the succeeding years so that the average allowance per annum for the years 1905 to 1915, inclusive, was 1.245 per cent. The allowances for the first six years of this period averaged 1.4462 per cent., while for the years 1911-1915, inclusive, it was but practically one per cent. For the same period, 1905-1915, inclusive, the cost value of the buildings and equipment-exclusive of sites-had increased from $65,182,013.34 to about $123,000,000. The exact figures for 1915 are not at the moment available, but the sum arrived at is the average increase added to the 1914 figures. This indicates, of course, a great increase in the number of school premises to be cared for, but whereas the allowance for 1904, for instance, was $1,519, 518.72 on a cost value of the property of $55,984,939.47, yet for the succeeding six years it averaged $1,239,256.42 and 1911 to 1915, inclusive, $1,145,025.46. The allowance for 1915 is $1,287,255.85. This means a continuance of effort to do only the necessary work, and to use methods which will obtain the greatest possible return for each dollar expended. It is most unfortunate that the Board of Estimate and Apportionment has not seen its way clear to carry out its desire of making a further appropriation for carrying on the work of fire-prevention under the Rules adopted jointly by the Fire Commissioner and the Board of Education. It is quite clear that the work already accomplished not only has increased the safety of our school buildings, but has very greatly reduced the fire hazard, which, since the City insures itself, is a most important matter. ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING The work of preparation of plans and specifications for electric lighting of certain of the older buildings, the expense of which is to be met from the special fund of $125,000, has progressed rapidly in view of the labor involved. Of the thirty-eight schools selected in Manhattan and Brooklyn, the plans and specifications are ready so as to permit of advertisement being made for Public Schools 18, 37, 51, 69 and 73, Borough of Manhattan, as soon as the specifications are printed and approved by the Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. Care has been taken to confer with the representatives of the Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity in advance of the actual preparation of the work, in order to avoid any delay or misunderstandings. It is thought that no more than five schools should be included in any one specification, as the number of electrical contractors in the Greater City is comparatively limited. Immediately following this first lot will be the specifications for Public Schools 84, 135, 41, 56, 88, 122, 124, 137, 140 and 161, all in Manhattan. In the meantime similar preparation of the work has been carried on for the schools of Brooklyn so that, alternating with the request for bids for the group of five Manhattan schools, will be those for a similar number of Brooklyn schools, so that awards of contracts may be made for the work at Public Schools 1, 34, 37, 46, 67, 79, 111, 116, 3, 9, 11, 12, 25, 39, 75, 82, 118, 4 and 32. There are four other schools in the Borough of Manhattan that must be held back until others can be completed, unless additional inspection can be provided for. A fair appreciation of the great good that will be accomplished through the carrying on of this work can best be had, perhaps, through the realization that these are all of the older type of buildings, without any great amount of natural light, although at the time they were built, when there were open spaces about, it is possible that there was all the light required. Added to this is the utter lack of mechanical ventilation, small rooms and other physical conditions which cannot well be overcome. |