THE GOOD
We are glad to see that the Bell Boulevard business community is fully involved with the coming Renaissance and has added some ideas to beautify and revitalize this strong commercial district.
A complete new vision for Bell Boulevard has been presented to Community Board 11 and approved by both the Bayside Business Association (BBA) and the Bayside Village Business Improvement District (BID).
Along with a major repaving project by the city, the plans call for planting trees, redesigning sidewalks and curbs, fancier street lights that are more energy efficient and new benches, bike racks and trash receptacles.
The first phase of the project will follow Con Edison work on underground gas mains along the thoroughfare and could start as early as fall 2011.
We will bring information and designs as they become available.
THE BAD
Elmhurst Dairy has cried out for help to save some 700 jobs that are in jeopardy due to the loss of their contract with Starbucks for milk, cups and coffee in the city.
One immediate effect on the 1,400 city schools that Elmhurst Dairy serves throughout the school year will be a seven to eight cent increase in price. The dairy operators are examining other revenue streams such as delivering romaine lettuce to schools and even selling power generated on-site to the local community.
We hope that other deals can be made to supply milk and products to other coffee companies and even the city prisons.
THE UGLY
Shame on Bellerose.
Its residents expressed their outrage against a group home for eight autistic men and caused a city nonprofit, Quality Services for the Autism Community (QSAC) to flee the area. Bellerose has one other group home and residents said they were worried that they would be oversaturated with the proposed home a mere block-and-a-half away.
The eight men involved have autism, and are vulnerable people who do not cause trouble in other neighborhoods where QSAC has opened group homes. These homes are fully supervised, including nights and weekends.
The QSAC facility six miles away in Rosedale has had no complaints from its neighbors in 10 years. Bellerose should talk to Rosedale.
