Sunrise/Sunset 5:25 a.m./8:30 p.m.
Duration of shadow (due to Alternative 3) N/A Times of shadow penetration N/A
Maximum Increment1 N/A
Affected features N/A
Analysis Period December 21: 8:46 a.m. – 3:01 p.m.
Sunrise/Sunset 7:16 a.m./4:31 p.m.
Duration of shadow (due to Alternative 3) 1 hour, 21 minutes Times of shadow penetration 1:40 p.m. – 3:01 p.m.
Maximum Increment1 95%
Affected features Majority of open lawn area. 1
Maximum increment is an estimate of the highest percentage of the open space that would be covered by incremental shadows from Alternative 3 during the analysis period.
Source: The Louis Berger Group, Inc., 2007.
Table 22-54: Shadow Analysis Results – Vegetable Garden
Analysis Period March 21: 8:27 a.m. – 5:40 p.m.
Sunrise/Sunset 6:57 a.m./7:10 p.m.
Duration of shadow (due to Alternative 3) N/A Times of shadow penetration N/A
Maximum Increment1 N/A
Affected features N/A
Analysis Period May 6: 7:18 a.m. – 6:28 p.m.
Sunrise/Sunset 5:48 a.m./7:58 p.m.
Duration of shadow (due to Alternative 3) 1 hour, 10 minutes Times of shadow penetration 3:10 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
Maximum Increment1 100%
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CCNY Science Building/CUNY ASRC Project Page 22-178
Table 22-54: Shadow Analysis Results – Vegetable Garden (Continued)
Analysis Period June 21: 6:55 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sunrise/Sunset 5:25 a.m./8:30 p.m.
Duration of shadow (due to Alternative 3) 1 hour, 50 minutes Times of shadow penetration 3:50 p.m. – 5:40 p.m.
Maximum Increment1 100%
Affected features Small vegetable garden
Analysis Period December 21: 8:46 a.m. – 3:01 p.m.
Sunrise/Sunset 7:16 a.m./4:31 p.m.
Duration of shadow (due to Alternative 3) N/A Times of shadow penetration N/A
Maximum Increment1 N/A
Affected features N/A
1
Maximum increment is an estimate of the highest percentage of the open space that would be covered by incremental shadows from Alternative 3 during the analysis period.
Source: The Louis Berger Group, Inc., 2007.
Nicholas Avenue between the comfort station and the West 135th Street Plaza would be shaded by Alternative 3. The seven benches and two picnic tables at the West 135th Street Plaza would be shaded for approximately one hour between 4:00 p.m. and 5:10 p.m. The benches on the path and St. Nicholas Avenue in the vicinity of the Children’s Playground, and benches located north of the West 135th Street Plaza would not be affected by incremental shadows on March 21.
May 6: 7:18 a.m. – 6:28 p.m. Shadows from Alternative 3 would reach the western boundary of a portion of St. Nicholas Park at approximately 1:57 p.m. on May 6, and would gradually increase and move eastward throughout the afternoon until 6:02 p.m. This area would be completely shaded by the topography of the park by 6:02 p.m. From 1:40 until 6:02 p.m., rock outcroppings and vegetated areas of the park that are roughly located between West 132nd and West 135th Streets would be affected by incremental shadows from Alternative 3. The maximum incremental shadow cast by Alternative 3 would affect approximately 17 percent of the total area of St. Nicholas Park. With the exception of paved paths/walkways/stairs, much of this area is not suitable for recreational activity.
From 4:05 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., incremental shadows from Alternative 3 would cover the northern half of the Children’s Playground. These incremental shadows would affect the swings and benches located within the northern half of the playground area. The playground equipment in the southern half of the playground would not be affected. By 5:15 p.m., existing shadows from the topography of St. Nicholas Park would fully cover the Children’s Playground.
The West 135th Street Plaza lawn would not be affected by incremental shadows from Alternative 3 on May 6.
From 3:10 p.m. to 4:20 p.m., incremental shadows from Alternative 3 would cover the vegetable garden located along the upper level path. From 4:20 p.m. to the end of the analysis period, the garden would be covered by existing shadows from the park terrain.
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Incremental shadows would begin to affect benches near the basketball and handball courts at approximately 3:40 p.m. on May 6. At their maximum extent, incremental shadows from Alternative 3 would cover approximately 6 benches along the lower level path between the Children’s Playground and the West 135th Street Plaza. In addition, approximately eight benches along St. Nicholas Avenue between the Children’s Playground and the handball court would be shaded by Alternative 3. The benches and picnic tables at the West 135th Street Plaza, and the benches located north of the West 135th Street Plaza would not be affected by incremental shadows on May 6.
June 21: 6:55 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Shadows from Alternative 3 would reach the western boundary of a portion of St. Nicholas Park at approximately 2:48 p.m. on June 21, remaining until 6:50 p.m. From 1:52 p.m. to 6:50 p.m., portions of the rock outcroppings and vegetated areas of the park (situated between approximately West 132nd and West 134th Streets) would be affected by incremental shadows from Alternative 3. The maximum incremental shadow cast by Alternative 3 would affect approximately 15 percent of the total area of St. Nicholas Park. With the exception of paved paths/walkways/stairs, much of this area is not suitable for recreational activity.
The Children’s Playground initially would be affected by incremental shadows from Alternative 3 at approximately 4:40 p.m., and fully shaded by 6:00 p.m. The swings, playground equipment and benches would be shaded by incremental shadows. Existing shadows due to the topography of St. Nicholas Park would begin to shade the playground at 6:10 p.m., fully shading it by 6:20 and remaining until the end of the analysis period at 7:00 p.m.
The West 135th Street Plaza lawn would not be affected by incremental shadows from Alternative 3 on June 21.
From 3:50 p.m. to 5:40 p.m., incremental shadows from Alternative 3 would cover the vegetable garden located along the upper level path. From 5:40 p.m. to the end of the analysis period, the garden would be covered by existing shadows from the park terrain.
Incremental shadows would begin to affect benches near the comfort station and the Children’s Playground at approximately 4:30 p.m. on June 21. At their maximum extent, incremental shadows from Alternative 3 would cover approximately 8 benches along the lower level path between the Children’s Playground and the West 135th Street Plaza. In addition, approximately ten benches along St. Nicholas Avenue between the Children’s Playground and the West 135th Street Plaza would be shaded by Alternative 3. The benches and picnic tables at the West 135th Street Plaza, and the benches located north of the West 135th Street Plaza would not be affected by incremental shadows on June 21.
December 21: 8:46 a.m. – 3:01 p.m. Shadows from Alternative 3 would reach the western boundary of a portion of St. Nicholas Park at approximately 12:15 p.m. on December 21, remaining until the end of the analysis period at 3:01 p.m. Initially, project-induced shadows would affect the western, upland park areas roughly situated between West 133rd and West 134th Streets. Incremental shadows from Alternative 3 would affect a greater percentage of the park as the day progresses, and by 2:30 p.m., much of the open lawn area (just west of St. Nicholas Park’s West 135th Street Plaza) would be covered by shade. The maximum incremental shadow cast by Alternative 3 would affect approximately 31 percent of the total area of St. Nicholas Park.
The Children’s Playground and vegetable garden would not be covered by incremental shadows from Alternative 3 on December 21.
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Incremental shadows from Alternative 3 would enter the open lawn area west of the West 135th Street Plaza at 1:40 p.m., fully cover this resource by 2:30 p.m. and remain until the end of the analysis period at 3:01 p.m.
Incremental shadows would affect benches on the lower level path north of the West 135th Street Plaza beginning at 2:30 p.m. At their maximum extent, incremental shadows from Alternative 3 would cover approximately 21 benches that are situated along the lower level path between the basketball court and West 136th Street to the north. In addition, approximately ten benches along St. Nicholas Avenue north of the West 135th Street Plaza would be shaded by Alternative 3. The seven benches and two picnic tables at the West 135th Street Plaza would be shaded for approximately 20 minutes, from 2:40 p.m. until the end of the analysis period. The benches south of the handball and basketball courts, and in the vicinity of the Children’s Playground would not be affected by incremental shadows on December 21.
Effect on Recreation. The incremental shadows from Alternative 3 would not prohibit the use of the Children’s Playground, West 135th Street Plaza lawn, paths and benches. Depending on the season and the individual preferences of users of these recreation resources, the additional shade may be considered beneficial (e.g., during the summer) or adverse (e.g., during the winter). In general, the users of the active recreation areas such as the basketball and handball courts would be less sensitive to increased shadows than the users of passive recreation areas such as benches and the lawn to the west of the West 135th Street Plaza. Moreover, duration of incremental shadows from Alternative 3 in any one location would be relatively brief. Furthermore, for users who prefer not to be shaded by Alternative 3, alternate playgrounds, paths and seating areas that do receive sunlight, may be available within St. Nicholas Park (depending on the season and the affected resource). The overall usability of St. Nicholas Park would not be substantially reduced by incremental shadows from Alternative 3.
Effect on Vegetation. Shadows from Alternative 3 would reduce the amount of sunlight available to vegetated areas and trees in St. Nicholas Park. The minimum amount of sunlight that would be available to vegetation in the park with Alternative 3 was conservatively estimated by assuming that Alternative 3’s incremental shadows would fully cover the park, rather than move across the vegetated areas. Existing shadows from topography and other buildings do not affect vegetated areas of St. Nicholas Park during the morning-early afternoon time period before incremental shadows reach the park on March 21, May 6 and June 21. Therefore, it can be assumed that the vegetation is receiving full sun during this time period. The analysis is conservative because it does not take into account the movement of shadows throughout the day — any one particular tree or vegetated area would not be affected by incremental shadows from Alternative 3 for the entire duration of the shadow penetration of the park. The minimum amount of sunlight remaining for trees and vegetation in the areas affected by incremental shadows is as follows:
March 21/September 21 – 8:27 a.m. to 1:17 p.m. = 4 hours, 50 minutes
May 6/August 6 – 7:18 a.m. to 1:57 p.m. = 6 hours, 39 minutes
June 21 – 6:55 a.m. to 2:48 p.m. = 7 hours, 53 minutesTree species identified within the park included silver maple (Acer saccharinum), hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), American basswood (Tilia americana),
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and tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima). These species are considered by the United States Forest Service (“USFS”) to be shade tolerant species.65
The results indicate that vegetation and trees in St. Nicholas Park would receive adequate sunlight (four to six hours) during the April to October growing season, and over six hours of sunlight during the summer. Therefore, the tree canopy in St. Nicholas Park would not be significantly impacted by Alternative 3.
A small vegetable garden located on the upper level path would receive reduced sunlight during the May 6 and June 21 analysis dates. However, since this resource would still receive approximately seven hours of sunlight each day during the summer, Alternative 3 would not have an adverse impact on the garden.
Shadow analysis results indicate that shadows from Alternative 3 would reach St. Nicholas Park on a year-round basis, but would not diminish the overall quality or usability of this resource. Therefore, Alternative 3 would not have a significant adverse impact on St. Nicholas Park.
Annunciation Park.