Beechhurst Development Draws Protests

With the development on the site of the Beechhurst Yacht Club still shrouded in mystery, neighbors and local legislators came out this past weekend in protest to voice their opposition.
“I think it’s atrocious,” said Riverside Drive resident Effie DiMartino, who echoed her neighbors in her concern about diminishing property values and quality of life issues. “No one knew anything — we still don’t.”
Calling on the Department of Buildings (DOB) to intervene and stop construction on what some think will be a nightclub or topless bar, many have vowed to keep this “nightmare” out of their neighborhood.
“I really hope they [the DOB] can get them to stop the building,” said DiMartino. “A lot of kids live on this block.”
But the developer of the 30×200-foot site, Beechhurst Management Corporation (BMC), has said that area residents are overreacting to what will be a “good thing” for the neighborhood.
“It’s not going to be a cabaret or topless place,” said Joseph Facchin, vice president for BMC. “They [the residents] knew about it. It will be a continuation of the Yacht Club which has been here for 50 years. There will be a restaurant on the property and it will be a family establishment — it will be something that will add to the area.”
Claiming that the property had been offered up to the Beechhurst Condominium Board for sale at least three times, Facchin told The Queens Courier that the site, zoned for manufacturing purposes (with an MI designation), will be a boon for the neighborhood, and that all work being done “as right” was up to par.
“We will have a beautiful fire-proof building,” he said. “We have not received one citation.”
But according to Jennifer Givner, a spokesperson for the DOB, that is not true, as a stop work order was issued on April 13 following an audit in which inspectors turned up 17 “technical” objections. These included non-compliance with frontage requirements, energy codes, and flood regulations, as well as accessibility and vehicle clearance.
“They [BMC] have an opportunity to comply with each of these objections — they have to — before we allow them to go back to work,” said Givner.
When The Queens Courier asked Facchin about the stop work order, he said, “We are up to code” and denied knowledge of the order.
Architect Ed Hogan was unavailable for comment.
Until the issue is settled, residents have vowed to continue protesting with the backing of the Greater Whitestone Taxpayers Civic Association.
toni@queenscourier.com