Michael Markowitz

This school zoning map, a third option presented Dec. 9, was in response to parents who said they wanted their children to attend school closer to home.

At a hearing held Dec. 9 on two options for temporarily zoning four Lower Manhattan elementary schools, it was a surprise third option that got most of the attention and praise from formerly disgruntled parents.

The first two plans, devised by the Department of Education, have been up for comment this month, with the Community Education Council (CEC) of School District 2 expected to come to a final decision on catchments for P.S. 234, P.S. 89, P.S. 276 and P.S. 397 (the Spruce Street School) in January. Parents whose children would be excluded from their closer schools in one or both of those options had shown up in force at a hearing the week before to express their displeasure. They are Tribeca and Battery Park City residents who are left out of P.S. 234 and P.S. 276 zones respectively.

In response, Michael Markowitz, one of three members of the CEC’s zoning committee, presented an option of his own Wednesday that would largely keep Tribeca intact as a P.S. 234 zone. It also would shift the Gateway Plaza complex, previously zoned for P.S. 89 in both DOE options, to the closer school, P.S. 276.

“The purpose of what you’re about to see is to try and stretch some thinking outside the box and not just restrict our thinking to the two options presented by the DOE,” Markowitz told the group of nearly 100 parents gathered in the State Assembly Hearing Room at 250 Broadway.

Markowitz was careful to note that the option is not the CEC’s official recommendation. Among the features of Option 3:

• The southern boundary for P.S. 234 is Murray St. (both sides) and the eastern boundary is Broadway.

•The northern boundary of P.S. 276 is Vesey Street, which takes in Gateway Plaza.

•The northwest corner of Tribeca, above Laight Street, is zoned for P.S. 89.

•William Street and Old Slip would form the boundaries between P.S. 276 and P.S. 397 (the Spruce Street School.)

(More information on Option 3, as well as a place to comment on the zoning proposals, can be found at http://d2zoning.wetpaint.com/.)

The option especially pleased Tribeca parents living east of Church Street, who landed in the P.S. 397 zone in the DOE’s options rather than in the zone for P.S. 234, the school they prefer.

“Looking at this plan as it’s now drawn, I am so appreciative,” said Dru Gerheart, a resident of 270 Broadway, zoned for P.S. 397 in the DOE options. “I would get to stay in the community I currently live in.”

The third option would resolve complaints by residents of the Greenwich Court condo with addresses at 295 Greenwich St. (north of Warren St.) and 275 Greenwich St. (south of Warren Street). Option 1 had split their building between the P.S., 234 and P.S. 397 zones. "We have a very simple request," said Grace Flood of 295 Greenwich. "Two-ninety-five is directly across from 234 and 275 is diagonally across.  Please keep us all in 234."

Kim Busi, co-chair of the Spruce Street School PTA, praised the plan and urged the CEC to draw the boundaries for her school even further south into the Financial District. "It will take some seats out of 276 and it would really include the whole heart of the Finanial District in our zone and keep the community together," she said.

Gateway Plaza parents also were happy with the plan.

“This Option 3…puts us back into the community we have built over the last seven years,” said Andrew Bell, who spoke for his contingent of  neighbors attending the meeting.

CARL GLASSMAN/TRIBECA TRIB

Andrew Bell, from Gateway Plaza in Battery Park City, tells the CEC panel that he applauds the new option for putting his apartment complex in the P.S. 276 zone.

Bell described Gateway Plaza residents as an “aging population” and the complex as one that is not likely to crowd P.S. 276 with many new students.

Elizabeth Rose, the DOE’s liaison to the zoning process, took issue with Bell’s estimate.

“We see it as having a significant number of students,” she said. According to Rose, children from Gateway Plaza would overcrowd P.S. 276. And P.S. 89 would be underenrolled without them.

In response to Markowitz's map, Rose said she was pleased that another alternative had been presented, but added, "There are still issues. The 276 zone is too large for 276 and 234 is too large.”

Markowitz warned parents that “to make the numbers balance” apartments east of Church Street and some south of Laight Street may not make it into the P.S. 234 zone. And while many rejoiced about being in their preferred school zone in Option 3, Shino Tanikawa, co-chair of the zoning committee, was quick to warn them: "I don't want to give any false hope that these will be the final lines." She said she still wanted to hear from others who had yet to see the newest plan.

That opportunity comes at the CEC's meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 6:30 p.m., at 333 Seventh Ave. The CEC is also requesting comments at d2zoning@gmail.com. The CEC, which has final say over school zoning, must make its decision by Jan. 27.