By Bob Harris
Like a slowly building wave, the resentment of Queens residents is building. In the past few months large crowds of residents have noisily protested what they consider to be the overbuilding of Queens. This same concern has led to a moratorium on such building on Staten Island by the city government. It is now Queens’ turn.
About 300 people gathered outside of Queens Borough Hall. This is approximately the same number of people who gathered in Fresh Meadows a couple of weeks ago to express their concerns about a proposed gigantic regional Pathmark on 69th Avenue and 195th Lane opposite PS 26. There are vague proposals about tearing down a small neighborhood shopping center to build a 55,000-square-foot megastore that would overwhelm this carefully built residential neighborhood.
The crowd in front of Borough Hall heeded the call of an ad hoc coalition of civic and preservation groups in Queens County. During the middle of a workday, hundreds of civic association members came to protest a whole litany of concerns.
Some of these issues include the demolition of perfectly good older homes to make way for multifamily dwellings that are out of character with existing homes; the rebuilding of existing homes into oversized, noncontextual buildings; and the demolition of our historic buildings.
Other concerns are illegal conversions; the paving over of lawns and destruction of trees to make way for cement yards; and an increased population density in our communities, which stresses our resources and adds congestion and pollution.
The people had signs about several different issues concerning the character of their neighborhoods. One of the basic complaints, which has been expressed for years, is that many of these gigantic homes, called “McMansions” by detractors, are too large and thus illegal. It is claimed that builders submit false plans.
Other builders use an old Buildings Department regulation that does not count the cellar, first floor playroom and attic as living space. The builders then build a huge square house on the rest of the property. Some owners just want a big house but others use the first-floor playroom, cellar and attic as illegal rooms.
The problem is that the city government doesn’t act. The Buildings Department has been starved for inspectors for years, even though it is one agency that actually makes money for the city. Changing the above Buildings Department rules and adding more inspectors would help preserve our fine Queens neighborhoods.
This problem can be found in many communities but especially in Bayside, Jamaica Estates and Douglaston, where there are big lots.
Civic association members and leaders came from communities throughout Queens such as the Rockaways, Ridgewood, Kew Gardens Hills, Richmond Hills, Flushing, Douglaston, Briarwood, Little Neck and Fresh Meadows. The Douglaston Historic Society, Richmond Hills Historic Society and Queens Historic Society each had members present. Their theme was that the old historic houses of Queens should be preserved through landmarking. Speakers complained that while Manhattan has dozens of historic districts, Queens only has a half dozen.
Jim Trent from the Queens County Farm Museum and Creedmore Civic Association complained that in the past, developers were nibbling at the edges of historic areas but now they seem to be using the “slash and burn method.” He also complained that homeowners, who used to respect the integrity and architectural quality of a neighborhood, now just build what they want. There is the fear that Queens will become one large cement jungle with box-like buildings everywhere.
Sean Walsh from the Douglaston Civic and the Queens Civic Congress also spoke, as did Nancy Kalaldi of the Richmond Hills Historic Society. They have been waging a battle to save their grand old homes.
Also among the crowd members was Ann Jarwin of the Douglas Manor Civic Association, Patricia Dolan of the Kew Gardens Hills Civic Association, Mohammed Sadiq of the Queens Village Civic Association and residents from the West Cunningham Park Civic, the North Flushing Civic, North Bellerose Civic, the South Queens Alliance and the Kissena Park Civic.
City Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside), who has introduced legislation that could solve some of the problems, spoke as, as did Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing), whose civic has felt the pressure of community facilities.
Councilman David Weprin (D-Hollis) had a representative present and so did City Council Speaker Gifford Miller (D-Manhattan), U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Rockaway), and state Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose). Those representatives present or their own representatives were there to listen and report back the feelings of the crowd.
This subject will be continued next week with solutions to our zoning and overdevelopment concerns.
