By Alexander Dworkowitz
A Queens organization for the autistic plans to move one of its group homes from Rego Park to 12th Avenue in Whitestone.
Quality Services for the Autism Community, headquartered in Astoria, hopes to open the new home at 149-36 12th Ave. in a two-story house that has been abandoned for several years. The home should be ready in about a year's time.
The current location has become too cramped for the home's seven adult residents, said Gary Maffei, executive director of QSAC.
The state has already approved the move, Maffei said. Community Board 7 was scheduled to discuss the home at its May 12 meeting.
The Rego Park home, located at 64-33 99th St., was the first home established by QSAC when it opened in 1997. Since then, QSAC has started homes in Kew Gardens Hills, Astoria, Rosedale, Hollis, Floral Park and St. Albans as well as opening two in South Ozone Park.
The building itself, which has been hit with a city Buildings Department violation for having a crack in its foundation, is in need of repairs. QSAC plans to renovate the site using state funding, Maffei said.
The home is next door to the Immanuel Lutheran Church School. QSAC has been renting part of the facility for 75 of its own students for about four years, Maffei said.
Marilyn Bitterman, district manager of Community Board 7, said the board was generally in favor of such facilities.
“We basically have no problems with these homes,” she said.
Bitterman said “oversaturation” was the main concern of the board. But since she was not aware of any other group homes on the block, she said it appeared not to be an issue with the QSAC property.
But some of the neighbors were not happy about the plans for the home.
“The value of our properties will go down,” said Nelson Montesdeoca, who lives next store to the property in question. “This will go from a nice quiet block to a problematic block.”
Another neighbor, who did not wish to give her name, worried about having to change her customs.
“Are we going to have to live on eggshells?” she asked. “We have barbecues in the summer. Are we going to have to be quiet for them?”
Maffei, however, said the neighbors would not have to “live on eggshells,” saying his organization has a strong track record with its nine group homes in Queens.
“People will find that our clients make good neighbors, and there won't be any problems,” he said.
Maffei said the home could actually improve parking conditions on the block since QSAC staffers working at the neighboring school will be able to use the house's long driveway.
Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 141.
