By John Tozzi
The space, recently converted from office use to commercial, is conspicuously empty one block from Bell Boulevard, where new businesses move in overnight. The agent, Jeff Kim, said the owner has had several inquiries, but the building cannot be occupied until the city Department of Buildings issues a certificate of occupancy approving the use.”We were supposed to get the [certificate] before Christmas, but you know how it is with the government,” Kim said.The row of five storefronts, with the addresses from 212-02 to 212-12 41st Ave., is beginning to collect graffiti and the attached lot is littered with trash.A dumpster that belongs to the Long Island Rail Road was mistakenly placed on the property, and Kim said the landlord has been threatened with a summons.”The dumpster, we didn't ask them to put it there, but these guys just put it there,” he said.A spokesman for the Long Island Rail Road said the dumpster was moved off LIRR property by accident and was scheduled to be moved back Wednesday night.Kim said that although the property has no prospective tenants signed on yet, he expects to get the certificate of occupancy in the next few months and find retailers who will covet the spot next door to the station.”You could have a whole variety of clients,” he said. “It's a residential area and you have a lot of young people there.”The owner is asking $35 per square foot, which Kim said is slightly high, but not unusual for the area.”The market is not that great nowadays,” he said. “It's tough now, the rents are high.”Kim acknowledged that difficulty parking around Bell Boulevard was a problem for some retailers, but he said the property's prime space directly next to the LIRR station would make up for the lack of parking.”When the location is good, it's obvious that you're not going to find ample parking,” he said.Reach reporter John Tozzi by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300 Ext. 188.
