Zoning a problem in Woodhaven

Woodhaven is threatened with drastic change as developers destroy many of the Victorian homes that make up the community.
Maria Thomson, executive director of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation, urged members of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association to address the demolition of one- and two-family homes and the construction of multi-family dwellings in their place, at the association’s meeting on Wednesday, March 19.
“There is a big problem existing in Queens that we have to address because it’s coming into Woodhaven, the tearing down and demolition of beautiful Victorian homes. These homes are being replaced with four- or five- or six-family houses,” said Thomson.
In an effort to defend the personality of Woodhaven, members of the association have submitted a rezoning plan to City Planning. Residents hope that the rezoning plan will stop a troubling trend that has already destroyed many Victorian-style homes in the area.
Thomson explained that developers are offering large sums of money to homeowners, so they can tear down the smaller dwellings and replace them with out-of-place multi-family dwellings throughout the neighborhood.
Councilmember Joseph Addabbo, who attended the association’s meeting, felt that this is a problem for all communities in Queens. Addabbo suggested that the city should support the hiring of more City Planning personnel, responsible for enforcing and correcting the zoning laws of each community.
According to Addabbo, City Planning is currently under-staffed and they are experiencing a severe backlog in down-zoning plans submitted by various communities. Addabbo pointed out that these multiple-dwellings decrease the efficiency of city services, such as the sewer system.