UPPER WEST SIDE — Close to two dozen tenants from Trinity House picketed in front of the Trinity School Tuesday afternoon, protesting the school's proposed expansion plan with handmade signs and chants.
Residents wearing signs reading "Don't take away our garage" and "Trinity should play fair," among others, walked in front of the West 91st Street elite private school during afternoon dismissal, amid packs of teenagers, parents picking up children, and sports teams boarding buses.
The school, which serves more than 1,000 students from some of the city's wealthiest families, has said it needs the proposed two-story expansion to adequately serve its students. One parent described the school as a "third-world facility," at a June public meeting.
But residents of the adjacent 200-unit affordable housing complex owned by the school worry the addition will take away their resources and create construction headaches.
In July, Community Board 7 rejected Trinity's request for support of its zoning variance application, which it needs to begin construction. The Board of Standards and Appeals will rule on the variance on Oct. 7.
Tuesday's picketing remained peaceful, with Trinity School administrators watching quietly from the sidelines and students weaving in and out of the group of tenants.
"We're not against Trinity expanding, we feel it shouldn't be at our expense," said Dina Hesler, a member of Trinity House's Tenants Association.
Chief among residents' concerns is a new wall they said would be built in front of their apartment complex that would block air and light and would mean the removal of four balconies.
They're also worried that as a result of the expansion, there will be a 25 percent reduction in space at the parking garage on the ground floor of Trinity House, where the rental income helps support the complex's reduced rents.
Trinity School said in a statement that it has committed to paying any reduction in income to Trinity House as a result of shrinking the garage and that it would make up for the loss in revenue during the year that the garage has to close for construction. Yet residents said they're waiting for a more contractually obligating document from the school reiterating the commitment.
Tenants and nearby resident have also registered concerns about the construction process and how it would logjam traffic along the narrow side streets of West 91st and 92nd streets.
"Trinity is committed to participating in a construction coordinating committee, to be convened by Community Board 7, to provide ongoing information regarding the progress of construction and to discuss any community concerns regarding the construction," said Kevin Ramsey, the school's director of communications, in a statement.
Under the plan, the sports field would be raised two stories, requiring the school to add a net over it for safety.
Neighbors worry snow and ice caught in the net will end up landing on passersby and injuring them.
"Where will the snow that doesn't land on the 21,000 square-foot turf go?" asked nearby resident John Durko, who said he's very concerned about accumulation and hasn't heard an answer from the school yet.
Snow will not fall onto the street under the current design plans, said Ramsey.
"The slope of the netting and its setback from the parapet are such that any snow or ice will fall into the turf drainage zone and not onto the street," he said.
Residents said they planned to attend the upcoming Board of Standards and Appeals hearing and make their concerns known to the city.
The school said it has met with residents frequently in the past and will continue to pursue regular dialogue with them.
