Stormproofing watch: Haven Plaza

Two years have passed since our last look at the natural disaster-resistant infrastructure to protect Haven Plaza here on Avenue C at 12th Street... here's how the project is shaping up...



The project was announced in the summer of 2017 for the affordable-housing complex.

Here's is a recap via the media advisory:

This new two-story structure plus basement and the upgrades throughout the complex are in direct response to 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, when the nearby East River overflowed its banks, the Con Edison East River Generating Station adjacent to Haven Plaza exploded, and, as a result, Haven Plaza lost all electricity and steam for heat. Residents – many elderly – were trapped without elevator service, electricity, heat or water. Men and women of the National Guard shared their field rations with residents until the power returned.

The $9.89-million project, which received funding through the New York City Build It Back program, was expected to be complete in August 2018, per the plywood signage. Obviously that deadline was missed.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Protection for Haven Plaza on Avenue C in case of another hurricane like Sandy

Work on disaster protection for Haven Plaza underway

Work started this past week on a natural disaster-resistant infrastructure to protect Haven Plaza in case of another destructive hurricane such as Sandy.

The project was announced back in the early summer for the affordable-housing complex on Avenue C at 13th Street.

Here's is a recap via the media advisory:

This new two-story structure plus basement and the upgrades throughout the complex are in direct response to 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, when the nearby East River overflowed its banks, the Con Edison East River Generating Station adjacent to Haven Plaza exploded, and, as a result, Haven Plaza lost all electricity and steam for heat. Residents – many elderly – were trapped without elevator service, electricity, heat or water. Men and women of the National Guard shared their field rations with residents until the power returned.

The $9.89-million project, which received the funding through the New York City Build It Back program, is expected to be complete in August 2018, per the new plywood signage.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Protection for Haven Plaza on Avenue C in case of another hurricane like Sandy

Protection for Haven Plaza on Avenue C in case of another hurricane like Sandy

Haven Plaza, the affordable-housing complex on Avenue C, is getting a natural disaster-resistant infrastructure to protect it in case of another hurricane with the force of Sandy.

Officials recently broke ground on the $9.89-million project, which will rise at 13th Street.

Here are more details via the official news release on the project:

This new two-story structure plus basement and the upgrades throughout the complex are in direct response to 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, when the nearby East River overflowed its banks, the Con Edison East River Generating Station adjacent to Haven Plaza exploded, and, as a result, Haven Plaza lost all electricity and steam for heat. Residents – many elderly – were trapped without elevator service, electricity, heat or water. Men and women of the National Guard shared their field rations with residents until the power returned.

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the New York City Housing Development Corporation awarded nearly $10 million to Haven Plaza for the project through the New York City Build It Back program.

Here's more in a statement from Daniel Allen, principal of CTA Architects, the project's designer:

"The new facility addresses Haven Plaza’s need to be self-sufficient during both regular operations and in case of a natural disaster, instead of relying on a costly ConEd steam supply. We also wanted the new structure to be architecturally attractive due to its visibility on a high-trafficked location. The front façade will be glazed to allow the passers-by to view the inner works of the building and equipment within."

[Rendering via CTA Architects]

This is a really good thing for those who reside in Haven Plaza. Of course, residents – many elderly – were also trapped without elevator service, electricity, heat or water in all the surrounding public housing buildings in the aftermath of Sandy. Where's the disaster protections for these residents?

In any event, according to DNAinfo, who first reported on this last week, the project will be complete in 2018.

The 371-unit, four-building Haven Plaza complex between 12th Street and 13th Street was completed in 1966.

Report: Power still out at 26-story Haven Plaza on Avenue C

[This morning at Haven Plaza by Dave on 7th]

Haven Plaza on East 12th Street at Avenue C is one of the many area buildings that is still without electricity or heat in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

As the Post reported today:

Water pressure in the building goes up only a few floors, elevators are disabled and residents are forced to trudge up and down the stairs for necessities.

“My daughter goes up and down 14 floors, five times a day, to bring me food and water,” said Iris Bido, 71.

Meanwhile, on the Lower East Side, the power is still out at Knickerbocker Village. The Lo-Down reported this morning that partial power has been restored at four of the 12 buildings in the affordable housing complex on Monroe Street.

And there's no end to the crisis here. There is still up to 25 feet of water in the mechanical and boiler rooms on the west side of Knickerbocker, The Lo-Down noted.