Will homeowners lose property to Albert Road project?

An emergency meeting regarding the Albert Road reconstruction project (HWQ411B) was held recently to discuss both the project and any eminent domain issues.
Ozone Park residents gathered at the November 16 meeting to learn more about the project, which was first proposed almost 30 years ago from the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC).
Many residents were concerned about a recent letter sent out to over 500 local homeowners that warned them about some property that may be taken for the project.
The hundreds of residents that attended were able to speak directly with DDC representatives as a traditional meeting was eschewed in favor of several tables, sorted by address, where residents were able to speak one-on-one with the DDC.
Narayanan Venugopalan, assistant commissioner of program management at the DDC, assured residents that no homes would be taken, but wider streets and sidewalks may claim a portion of resident’s sidewalk.
“One hundred fifty-two property owners might be affected out of the over 500 that were sent letters,” said Venugopalan. “Any owners of the property taken will be compensated.”
He also said that between 250 and 500 square feet of land from in front of some houses may be taken. But not all of that property is necessarily owned by the homeowner. Some of it may be city property, he said.
Many residents were unhappy that any of their property, no matter how little, may be taken.
“I want the same amount of property as when I bought my house, not one foot less,” said one resident.
The project was first proposed in 1981, but has faced numerous delays and setbacks.
Howie Kamph, president of the Ozone Park Civic Association, said that while the project is as far along as it has ever been, he is still skeptical.
“I received papers in the 1980s that this project was going to get started,” he said. “I’m sure it will get done, but I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Accoding to Venugopalan, the funding from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is lined up.
“The funding is there, but without the titles to the properties we need, we can’t begin to do the work,” Venugopalan said.
The project – which includes new sewers, water mains, traffic signals, roads and sidewalks – is tentatively planned to start in the summer of 2012. The work will be done in two or three phases and should take two years to complete, say officials.