Proposed Toilets in Park is a Tough Issue for CB1

By Carl Glassman
POSTED JANUARY 1, 2008

Community Board 1 can make up its mind about most issues, but the matter of toilets in a Tribeca park seems to present an unusual challenge.

Last month, for the second month in a row, the board chose to put off a vote on whether it supports the city Parks Department’s choice of a site for a million dollar toilet facility in Washington Market Park.

A contingent of the park’s 60 community gardeners opposes the site, in the  park’s northwest corner between the community gardens and the stairs leading to Borough of Manhattan Community College. The park’s volunteer board of directors supports the location, and that disagreement has community board members so split or undecided that they have yet to vote on where they stand.

Their position is only advisory, but the Parks Department is waiting for the board’s resolution before starting the process to begin construction.

Parks Department officials say that a trench for utility lines, to be dug from Greenwich Street, would mean the destruction of most of the gardens for at least one season. The community gardens would be restored, though there could be a loss of several plots.

“I fail to understand why this site was chosen when there are many other sites to choose from,” said Larry Wasser, the gardeners’ representative on the park’s board, and its lone opposing voice. “I think it’s the wrong place for a comfort station.”

That is not the opinion of the Parks Department, which claims that a trench dug in other parts of the park could damage the roots of several  trees.

“The hardwood trees have been there for a little less than 30 years,” Bob Redmond, the Parks Department’s director of capital projects, told the meeting. “And to destroy them just doesn’t make sense.”

Redmond said he is eager to get the gardeners’ suggestions on improvements they would like to see when the gardens are rebuilt. But those in attendance at the meeting were not moved.

“All the work we’ve put into it and all our emotional involvement is being destroyed,” said gardener Robert Ripps. “And then we’re being told it will be put back a year later? We put our sweat into this land and now it’s being taken away.”

Board member Peter Braus responded: “If 60 people are being asked to sacrifice for one year for the benefit of thousands of people in the neighborhood, it seems the benefit outweighs the cost enormously.”

After nearly an hour of discussion, Tribeca Committee co-chair Carole DeSaram declared herself undecided and the committee evenly split.  She suggested that her committee go to the park and see for themselves if there are other viable sites for the toilets. CB1 is expected to revisit the issue again this month.

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