Borough Hall’s ‘great outdoors’

On a day when the high temperature was no more than 19 degrees, John Procida spent 40 minutes waiting in line, but he was not at the bank.
Procida, owner of Procida Realty in Flushing and manager of a two-story multiple use-dwelling in the area, was standing in line outside Borough Hall on Queens Boulevard to have a buildings violation adjudicated.
But he was not alone.
The lines outside form early and they form no matter the weather as people wait to go through security to get married or to pay or plead a summons.
“On a nice day, it’s not bad, but on a bad day – cold, rain, and snow – standing outside for 30 or 40 minutes is abusive,” Procida told The Queens Courier.
Part of the problem, according to Mark Daly, a spokesperson for the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), which manages Borough Hall, is that the entrance, on the east side of the building, is used by both the City Clerk’s Office Marriage Bureau and the Queens Criminal Court Summons Bureau, both of which “are very busy.”
“We are aware of the problem,” said Daly. “But we need to address some concerns at the entrance and need to find a solution that suits both agencies.”
According to Dan Andrews at the office of Borough President Helen Marshall – a tenant of the building – an informal request for a canopy was made to DCAS a few months ago, but no formal response was received.
“The Borough President is aware that there is a problem, especially when it rains and snows,” said Andrews. “The lines can get very long and there is no protection. We have literally looked out the window and said ‘Something has to be done.’”
Daly told The Queens Courier that in just the past few days the architectural firm of Larsen, Shein, Ginsberg & Snyder was hired to “examine the possibility of a canopy” and do other work around the building.
“Retaining walls in the rear of the building need to be shored up and the plaza could get a facelift,” said Daly. “The project is in its early stages.”
According to Daly, DCAS and representatives of the architectural firm will meet later in the month “to discuss the scope of work.”
Editor’s Note: The Queens Courier will continue to report on the progress of the project.