Downtown Brooklyn Family Court building to become 1,000-seat high school. The City Council approved the New York School Construction Authority’s proposal to renovate the former Brooklyn Family Court building, located at 283 Adams Street at Johnson Street in downtown Brooklyn, to accommodate two high schools.

Currently vacant, the five-story structure will undergo complete renovation to convert the space into a 1,000-seat high school facility serving Community School District No. 13. An existing penthouse will be replaced with a 40-foot sixth floor addition, which will be used primarily as a gymnasium. The building’s proposed floor area and school use conformed to zoning. The School Construction Authority expects the facility to be ready for student occupancy by September 2008. It will accommodate two high schools and is expected to have an all-girl middle school component.

Greg Shaw, a School Construction Authority attorney, outlined the proposal before Council’s Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting & Maritime Uses on July 17, 2006. At the hearing, Shaw explained that any adverse impacts due to construction would be minimal since much of the necessary construction involves interior work.

The Subcommittee and Land Use Committee approved the proposal on July 18, 2006 and the full Council approved on July 19, 2006.

Council: Former Brooklyn Family Court (July 19, 2006). CITYADMIN