YORKVILLE — A plan for a three-story expansion of the Chapin School for girls was approved by the city's Board of Standards & Appeals — extending the cap on the building's height from 117 to 186 feet.
The addition at the 100 East End Ave. school would expand it from 8 stories to 11 stories — making room for a new gym, dining hall and additional classrooms for its music and dance programs, records show.
The new gym would be built on the 11th floor, fitness rooms would go on the 10th floor and dance and music rooms will go on the ninth. The new dining room for the lower school will be built on the ground floor and a turf field will be installed on the roof, according to plans filed with the Department of Buildings.
Chapin, a K-12 school, applied to change the zoning and allow the expansion in October last year, and the application was approved on Oct. 16.
BSA approved the plans with a few changes, including a 60 percent reduction in the size of a proposed stair tower, which would run along East 84th Street, between East End and York avenues, according to records.
"Chapin is extremely pleased with the approval and believes that the design of the expansion program has been significantly enhanced as a result of BSA input together with the public comments received throughout the lengthy review process," spokeswoman Anneli Ballard said in a statement.
The expansion is meant to meet the "evolving needs" of Chapin's students, she said.
Construction is slated to begin in early 2016 and finish by the end of 2018.
Community Board 8 rejected the school's plans in January this year over construction worries and its appearance.
CB8 Chairman Jim Clynes said it "looks like a hodgepodge of different layers of different buildings all stacked on top of each other," according to Our Town.
In the coming weeks, the school expects to hold public meetings to share its construction plans and schedule as well as take comment and questions through a 24/7 community phone line at 212-606-3225. Comments can also be sent to townhall@chapin.edu.
Construction is expected to take place during weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to plans on the school's website.
"As a member of the Yorkville community for over 80 years, Chapin well understands and is sympathetic to the temporary disruptions to quality of life that construction can bring," Ballard said.
"The school is committed to taking extensive measures to ensure that its expansion program is carried out in the safest, most responsible and efficient manner, and with as minimal impact to neighbors as possible."
