By Cynthia Koons
The property at 39-39 223rd St. is being developed by a son of Tommy Huang, the notorious builder who was convicted of a felony count of ignoring asbestos contamination and spilling hundreds of gallons of fuel oil in the basement of the historic RKO Keith's Theater in Flushing. He is also known for having destroyed the historic, landmarked lobby of the theater.
Bayside residents protested the construction of four houses on the 223rd Street lot in a neighborhood where traditionally one house has stood on a parcel that size. Tommy Huang's son, Henry, won approval from the city to build the homes, but since then the city Department of Buildings has issued multiple stop work orders for violations that have occurred on the property of the next door neighbor.
“I want the city and state to move to prohibit Tommy Huang and his family from doing any building,” Avella said last Thursday afternoon from the backyard of the neighboring house where Patricia Martin lives. Martin got the Department of Buildings involved a few months ago after part of her backyard disintegrated when the retaining wall collapsed between her property and the deep pit where the four houses are being built.
“I'd like to see an investigation to see if this job is legal. I'd like to see the architect's plans examined,” Martin said. “I'd like the Buildings Department to enforce their rules.”
The agency lifted its stop work order on the property last week and then reissued it after Martin notified them that the Huang family was working on one of the houses despite the department's restrictions.
In the yard, four foundations were established for the houses, but the city was only allowing construction at the home closest to the street. All four houses face away from Martin's and a road is going to be built to connect them to 223rd Street.
Martin told Avella that Huang was adding brickwork to the house in the back of the lot, which was not permissible.
“They are starting to put up the brick work on the last house, which is clearly outside the scope of work,” Avella said. “You cannot continually flout the building code and get away with it.”
He said he contacted state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to discuss regulations that would prevent repeat Buildings Department offenders from being allowed to develop in the city again.
“I care and the city of New York damn well better care,” Avella said.
Jerry Calo, an employee of Anno Construction, said he was at the site to remove construction equipment at the developer's request. He said he was called about the job a few hours prior to the 4 p.m. rally, and it appeared he was taking the equipment away because of the city's stop work order.
He was also unaware of the politics surrounding the project.
Martin said she was frustrated by the fact that the city has not been more observant of Huang's management of the site.
“It's a tough battle when you're battling bureaucracy,” she said. “It really is.”
Reach reporter Cynthia Koons by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 141.
