Riverdale Country School to expand

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Two new Riverdale Country School (RCS) projects received approval from Community Board (CB) 8 at its monthly full board meeting.

A proposed aquatic center on RCS’ Hill Campus off of Fieldston Road and a replacement building for the old Perkins building on the River Campus, off of Spaulding Lane, previously received a unanimous vote of approval from CB 8’s Land Use Committee.

The discussion was smooth sailing compared to recent debate over two other development projects in the area — an expansion by SAR Academy and a proposed housing development near Indian Pond in the Fieldston Historic District.

“This was perhaps one of the most comprehensive and well thought-out presentations before the board in recent years,” Land Use Committee Chairman Charles Moerdler said in a phone interview after the full board meeting. “There wasn’t any real opposition [to RCS’ plans].”

The aquatic center is a planned 13,000-square-foot building with a six-lane, 25-yard swimming pool, boys’ and girls’ locker rooms and administrative space.

The new, 22,954-square-foot Perkins building, meanwhile, will replace the existing Perkins building.

Plans for the building include nine classrooms for third- through fifth-grade students, a theater space, a student center with a cafeteria and kitchen and several other multipurpose meeting spaces.

David Patnaude, RCS’ director of plant and sustainability at the school, is acting as the project’s executive for the two developments. He said RCS expects both the aquatic center and the new building will be built and ready in time for the 2016 school year. 

RCS previously presented master plans for the Hill Campus and River Campus developments in 2000 and 2009, respectively. 

Mr. Moerdler said the Land Use Committee’s main concern was whether light emanating from the aquatic center could distract drivers on the Henry Hudson Parkway, but said RCS’ planning team vowed to take steps to dim or turn off the lights at night to avoid distraction. 

Some were concerned by the removal of trees at both locations, but Mr. Moerdler said the school planned to replace any felled trees in compliance with Special Natural Area District regulations.

“They were forthcoming in every respect,” he said.

Riverdale Country School, Charles Moerdler, Development, Community Board 8, David Patnaude, Maya Rajamani

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