Parents Question Developer Over Disruption to P.S. 234 by Etta Sanders Just a few weeks after construction work began on the lot west of P.S. 234, parents met with the developer of what will be an even larger building project just south of the school. Representatives from Minskoff Equities, which plans to build several residential buildings on the site known as 5B, were questioned about how the company will mitigate noise, vibrations, pollution and traffic, as well as the anticipated increase in enrollment at the already crowded school when the nearly 400 new apartments are occupied. Carlos Olivieri, a Minskoff vice president, said that the developer hopes to begin excavation in the fall and does not yet know whether pile drivers will be required. He said the noisiest part will last seven to nine months, but in a subsequent interview said that it could be only three or four months. "Bang, bang, bang for seven to nine months? That's practically the whole school year," principal Sandy Bridges said after the meeting. "They have to do something to help noise abatement." Parents asked if Minskoff would pay for soundproofing windows, since most classrooms face the site. Olivieri said that the company would look into it, but that he was not sure it would help and that it would require Department of Education approval. Marty Gottleib said he worried that the noise and vibrations would be detrimental to students. "My kids don't need a health food store," he said, referring to the Whole Foods that may open on the site. "My kids need to be able to sit in a class and do the best they can." Like Scott Resnick, the developer of Site 5C west of the school, Olivieri said that his company will use low-sulphur diesel fuel and will have its staging area on West Street away from the school. He agreed to biweekly meetings with school officials. Resnick has generally received praise for maintaining a high level of communication and minimizing noise and other impacts on the school so far. And while both developments will bring hundreds of new apartments to the neighborhood, and likely many new students to the school, Resnick's development will include new classroom space. Asked by one father what Minskoff will contribute, Olivieri said that the developer will give $1 million to $2 million for the community center that will be housed on the Resnick site. That's nice, the parent said later, "but what about building a middle school in those buildings?" he asked.