Future Of Stacks Uncertain

The plans of Brooklyn-based developers, CGS, to convert the Pennsylvania Railroad Power Station in Long Island City into a residential building is not a done deal as previously thought.
This vacant building has been standing on 50th Avenue and 2nd Street since 1909. Some see it as a landmark while others believe that replacing it is a better plan.
Cheskel Schwimmer, developer and partner of CGS Developers, said that the company sought permission from the city to be grandfathered so that the building could be converted for residential use.
“This building is an eyesore, Schwimmer said. “It is vacant and very old, and consequently there are many structural problems. We want to establish retail space on the ground floor, amenities for housing and community facilities. We feel that this will be a major asset to the community and it will enhance the community tremendously.”
But now all plans are on hold. On January 20, the Department of Buildings (DOB) declined to grant CGS a permit for renovations.
“The applicant came to us in an attempt to demolish the four smokestacks and [we] disapproved it,” said Jennifer Givner, spokesperson for the DOB. She did note the possibility of construction being approved at a later date.
But Karl Fischer, the architect hired to reconstruct the building, acknowledged the importance of the four smokestacks that stand on the power station. “We realize that the chimneys are a landmark for the city and we have been working with the city in order to maintain them,” said Fischer.
Alex Wols, a real estate attorney, and LIC resident, is among those who likes the idea. “I think residential development [here] is a plus. This is the closest part of Queens to Midtown Manhattan,” said Wols.