Two Trees management made good by its promise to build a middle school inside their proposed high-rise residential project on Dock street in DUMBO by inking a deal with the city last week for a 300-seat facility, according to an April 22, 2011 article in The Brooklyn Paper by Natalie O'Neill.

The school entrance would be on the Dock street side of the project that will rise 17 stories, the article said.

Two Trees Management, which owns the site under the Brooklyn Bridge, will swallow the cost of constructing the school, a move that the city says will save millions of dollars while providing a new option for District 13 families in DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights, the article said.

"We couldn't be prouder or more excited," said head developer Jed Walentas, adding that construction of the 17-story building will begin next spring and be completed in time for the 2014 school year, the article said.

Critics, including celebrities Ken Burns, historian David McCullough and actress Helen Hunt, attacked the promise as a sham to deflect attention from the project's main flaw: Its proximity to the bridge and its size would destroy some views of the fabled span, the article said, adding that "this week's contract between Two Trees and the School Construction Authority didn't satisfy some. 'The school is a red herring,' said Gus Sheha of the DUMBO Neighborhood Foundation, which sued the city claiming that it colluded with Walentas because he promised the money-saving school. 'It was used as a way to jam through this very unpopular project.'"

Borough President Markowitz hailed this week's contract, the article continued, as the first step towards adding a "much needed" school in Downtown and he also praised the project overall, citing its affordable housing units, retail and 465 parking spaces.

An April 2, 2009 article in The Brooklyn Paper by Ben Muessig said that "Historian David McCullough - author of a book about the Brooklyn Bridge - spoke about against DUMBO developer Jed Walentas's plan to build a residential tower with a public school near the famed bridge."

"Opponents of a controversial DUMBO development pulled out their wild card on Wednesday - a famed historian who not only opposes the proposed 18-story building near the fabled Brooklyn Bridge, but went so far as to suggest that the city raze other buildings in DUMBO to make room for a national park celebrating the Gothic landmark. Mr. McCullough called the proposed residential building 'visual vandalism.'"

"The Maine resident - who once lived in Brooklyn Heights - might have surpassed the wishes of even the most adamant Dock Street opponents when he suggested that instead of erecting the affordable housing, middle school and luxury condo development, workers should demolish the low-slung St. Anne's Warehouse arts center to create more open space around the bridge. 'I would favor taking down [this building...and turning [it into a national park,' he said," the article said.

Walentas, the article said, wanted a residential rezoning so he can build the 325-unit building, which includes 65 below-market-rate rentals and a public middle school that even opponents of the project say is needed somewhere in the neighborhood.

The Zoning sub-committee of Community Board 2 voted against this project and recommended by a vote of 10-1 to limit the height of any structure on this site to no higher than the Brooklyn Bridge roadway.

A petition of nearly 11,000 signatures reinforces the belief that any structure on this site should be limited in height to no higher than the Brooklyn Bridge roadway.

At Borough President Marty Markowitz's public hearing, out of 100 people who testified, 72 were against this project.