By Jeremy Walsh
Located at the intersection of 59th Street, 60th Street and 34th Avenue, the lot is a de facto traffic island. Neighbors say they have used the land as a neighborhood park since 1940, going so far as to plant trees and maintain the property.The owner, identified on city Department of Finance records as College Point-based Sano Construction Corp., submitted a variance request to Community Board 2, asking to be exempted from minimum front and side yard area requirements. Sano is the same company tasked with the demolition of Maspeth's St. Savior's Church. The lot is 1,200 square feet.CB 2 unanimously voted to recommend rejecting the proposal because the use would not be appropriate for the neighborhood. The issue now heads to the city's Board of Standards and Appeals, which will hold a hearing April 1.”It creates basically an unbuildable building lot unless you get a variance,” said Jeff Chester, an attorney for Sano, about the lot. “It's almost a classical textbook case for a variance.”Neighbors showed up in droves to voice their disapproval of the plan, telling stories of sunbathing in the summertime and bringing their children to play on the lot”I played in the park as a child, my children played in the park. Now my grandchildren play in the park,” said neighbor Mary Walsh, who has lived in the neighborhood for 72 years. “Keep it green. It's a very special place.”Resident Barbara LeGoff said she helped found the Triangle Townhouse Block Association in 1976. The group dedicated itself to the upkeep and improvement of the neglected triangle of land.”There's a lot of history here,” she said.She also said that developing the lot would cut off a route to school, noting that PS 152 is one block away.”If there is no sidewalk, will they walk in traffic?” she said of students who live nearby.Chester acknowledged neighbors have used the lot as a park for decades, but said Sano is entitled to develop it.”The reality of the situation is it's private property, it's always been private property, and my client has a right to use it,” he said. “If the city of New York wants a public park there, they can come and make an offer or make a condemnation.”CB 2 Chairman Joe Conley explained that the owner has the right to build on the property and the variance requests are the only reason the issue was up for discussion. He urged neighbors to show up and testify at the BSA hearing.”It makes a difference,” he said.Amanda Ikert, a city planner, said the application, which was previously submitted in 2007, went to the city BSA Feb. 22. Officials there thought the idea of providing cellar space for parking was unrealistic, she said.Residents also worried the proposed building would change the character of the block, which consists of uniform townhouses.”This construction won't be limited to a one-family house,” Tom Cansecki said.”I see four housing units here,” said neighbor Tom Ryan, who warned the owner would illegally divide the home when it was finished.”We couldn't do that,” Chester said. “We couldn't get a certificate of occupancy for it. It's just hyperbole.”Owners of the property have been denied similar applications in 1998 and 2004, Ryan said. The DOB Web site shows a job application filed for a two-story home with a cellar in 2004, but nothing before that.”This lot has been used as public space since 1940. A need has been created,” Ryan said.Reach reporter Jeremy Walsh by e-mail at jwalsh@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
