By Nathan Duke
Bayside residents and elected officials said they were upset that a car dealership on Northern Boulevard has long been using a residential street behind the business as well as the sidewalk adjacent to its property to park vehicles.
State Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza (D-Bayside) and state Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) have both contacted the city Department of Buildings and the 111th Precinct to complain that Star Nissan, at 206-02 Northern Blvd. in Bayside, has been parking vehicles on 45th Road and along the sidewalk on 206th Street, which is also the Clearview Expressway’s service road, for a long time.
“For many years, Community Board 11, local residents and elected officials have complained that Star Nissan has had more vehicles on its lot than is allowed under its certificate of occupancy and that pedestrians have been forced to dangerously enter into traffic to avoid vehicles that Star Nissan has parked on the sidewalk,” Carrozza said. “If after all these years, Star Nissan is still unable to comply with regulations, the Buildings Department must consider severe action against Star Nissan for violating its certificate of occupancy and endangering our community.”
Star Nissan could not be reached for comment.
In a letter to the DOB, Padavan said the dealership’s certificate of occupancy allows the business to park 30 cars on its lot. But in a separate letter to the 111th Precinct, he said the dealership often parks unlicensed vehicles with no plates on the streets near the business.
Community activist Mandingo Tshaka, who has registered complaints about the dealership with Carrozza, Padavan, Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office and the DOB, said he consistently notices vehicles without plates parked along 45th Road between Oceania Street and 206th Street.
“That business is making millions of dollars, but it’s not contributing anything to Bayside,” he said. “It’s disrespectful to the community and denying residents on 45th Road the right to park there.”
Residents on that street said they often have to park several blocks away.
“If I parked a car with no tags on the road, I’d get a ticket,” resident Jay Alvarez said. “If guests come to visit me, they can’t find parking.”
Kim Pearson, who also lives on the block, said she feels lucky to have a driveway next to her home.
“They take up most of the spaces on the block,” she said of the dealership.
On Tuesday morning, several cars with paperwork taped inside the windows and no plates were parked along 45th Road.
Jerry Iannece, chairman of CB 11, said he has heard complaints about parking issues relating to Star Nissan for several years.
“It’s an ongoing battle,” he said. “We’d get complaints, call the 111th Precinct, who would give them tickets, and then they’d start up again a couple months later. They are not very good neighbors. There’s not enough space for them to park all their cars on the lot, but there’s nothing we can do for them. Parking on the sidewalk is a no-no.”
Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at nduke@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
