CB 5 Eyes Eyesore’s Demise, Bank Project
The stalled construction of a group home for developmentally disabled youths in Glendale and plans to build a new bank in Maspeth were hot topics during Community Board 5′s Mar. 14 meeting at Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village.
District Manager Gary Giordano told the board at last Wednesday’s meeting that the PSCH organization, which began construction of a group home located on Cypress Avenue between Cooper Avenue and Vermont Place, has informed the board of their intention to demolish the existing, incomplete structure.
Giordano stated that construction of the cinder-block building-which aims to house 19 individuals with psychiatric disabilities-stalled in recent years; the incomplete building has since been smeared with graffiti and invaded by both trespassers and vermin.
PSCH reportedly told Giordano and Board 5 Chairperson Vincent Arcuri that it will demolish the incomplete structure due to an architectural problem and replace it with a new structure that could offer both senior housing space and the designated space for developmentally disabled youths.
The district manager noted that the organization has not provided further updates about their plans in recent weeks.
New bank for Maspeth
Board members also heard plans for the construction of a new TD Bank in Maspeth during a public hearing on the project, in which they were asked to approve a special permit with the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) to allow for the work to take place.
Attorney Jordan Most spoke on behalf of the owners of the property located at 73-49 Grand Ave. at 74th Street, the former site of a Blockbuster Video store.
Most stated that the BSA special permit is needed by the developers to tear down the existing structure and build the new bank since the property is a “split lot.” Half of the site is zoned for commercial use, while the other half is designated for residential purposes.
The former Blockbuster Video was built and operated on part of the residential section of the lot, but Most explained that attempts to have the Department of Buildings grandfather the entire property for commercial use was denied. Under BSA rules, up to 25′ on the residential portion of the split lot can be used for commercial purposes.
Most said the special permit would allow TD Bank to develop a building similar to its Middle Village and Ridgewood locations on the southeast corner of the lot with a drive-thru window and 18 parking spaces. The entrance would be located on the 74th Street side, while the exit would be on Grand Avenue.
As a result, a 3′-wide section of the residential portion of the lot will not be used and will instead be landscaped, according to the building plans.
A resident of 53rd Road-located about a block from the site-spoke in favor of the bank’s construction, observing that “a bank would be suitable for me and I’m sure for my neighbors.”
Walter Sanchez, chairperson of Board 5’s Zoning and Land Use Committee, said that the special permit application would be discussed further at the committee’s next meeting. A recommendation for or against the plan will likely be presented to the full board at their April session.
Some CURES for rails?
The co-chairs of Civics United for Railroad and Environmental Solutions (CURES) updated residents on the organization’s ongoing efforts to reduce noise and air pollution experienced by neighbors living near freight rail lines around Glendale and Middle Village.
Mary Parisen and Mary Arnold informed residents that local lawmakers recently met with officials from the state Health Department and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) about the issues. DEC officials indicated that they would “consider” air quality studies for areas near freight rail lines in Glendale and Middle Village, and the DOH was also pressed to explore the potential health impacts on residents who have been exposed to noise and air pollution near the rail lines for years.
Arnold also stated that City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley is considering introducing a resolution that would call upon the state to pay for the purchase of new modern, fuelefficient locomotives for use at Glendale’s Fresh Pond Railyard.
“It’s a 10-acre railyard in Glen- dale with locomotives from the 1970s,” Arnold said, observing that since government officials are advocating for the greater use of rail transportation, upgrading the fleet of engines “should be part of the policy.”
“The air pollution and noise is pretty intolerable already, and it’s just going to get worse and worse,” she added. “We’re not going to stop until we have all new trains and sound reduction technology.”
Public safety
At the start of the meeting, the commanding officer of the 104th Precinct informed board members that the command is monitoring area nightclubs and working to reduce an increase in robberies.
Capt. Michael Cody stated that while the precinct has seen a spike in robberies during the early part of 2012, the command has “put a plan into effect” to combat the increase. So far, the effort has resulted in “some good robbery arrests” in recent weeks, the commander said.
Cody also informed the board that the precinct is reviewing liquor license applications and working to “step up the nightlife enforcement.” During robbery investigations conducted by police, he pointed out, officers learned that a number of the robbery victims had left some clubs around the area before being held up.
During his report as chairperson of the Public Safety Committee, Robert Holden elaborated on the 104th Precinct’s crime-fighting efforts. He stated that the command continues to lead the precinct in graffiti arrests, with 144 tallied year-todate.
Holden added that the command recently shut down and arrested a crew of juvenile vandals who have targeted properties in Middle Village. One of the crew’s members, a 15- year-old male, was ordered to serve a year in juvenile detention after allegedly lying to a judge that he fulfilled his community service sentence, he pointed out.
Two of the community’s most prolific vandals, Matthew Young and Thomas Rank, each served between six and eight months in Rikers Island and were ordered to pay restitution for the damages created by their vandalism, Holden added.
‘We’ve reached a point where graffiti vandalism is taken seriously,” he stated, commending police, the Queens District Attorney’s office and judges for prosecuting vandals to the fullest extent of the law.
Holden also warned residents about “rogue tow truck companies” which have been observed operating recklessly on local streets. He pointed out one truck, whom he identified as “Redline,” was spotted recently speeding along Caldwell Avenue and driving through red lights.
“It’s a very dangerous situation,” he said. “It’s like a guy walking with a loaded gun and shooting off a round randomly.”
Holden encouraged residents to call 311 and the 104th Precinct to report any tow truck operators who are observed driving recklessly through the area.
Other news
Fern Weinreich of the Department of Design and Construction (DDC) informed the board that the Cooper Avenue underpass reconstruction project continues to move along “on schedule.” Workers have completed the removal of the old parapet walls and stripped off deteriorated layers of concrete from the southern side of the underpass. New concrete was scheduled to be installed beginning this week.
Giordano pointed out that the board continues to press the Department of Transportation in opposition to plans to change the direction of 74th Street between Cooper and 78th avenues from a one-way southbound to a one-way northbound.
“Our arguments with the DOT related to traffic and parking issues will be ongoing,” he said. “But we have gotten our way with the meat and potatoes of the project.”
Patricia Grayson, chair of the board’s Education Committee, called upon parents, students and graduates of Grover Cleveland High School to “show up and fight for the school” in opposition to plans by the DOE to replace the institution with a new school to open in September.
“If you close it on Friday and reopen it on Monday,” she said, “you haven’t solved the problem.” She noted that a public hearing regarding the proposed closure and replacement of Grover Cleveland will take place at the school on Monday night, Apr. 2, at 6:30 p.m.
Based on the advice of the Zoning and Land Use Committee, the board recommended approval of a BSA special physical culture establishment permit for the opening of a Planet Fitness gym located at 329 Wyckoff Ave. in Ridgewood. Sanchez noted that the recommendation comes with the condition that the property owners remove all graffiti from the property and maintain it to prevent future vandalism.
Parks
Steve Fiedler, co-chair of the board’s Parks Committee, announced that $1.7 million has been allocated by Council Member Crowley toward the reconstruction of part of Evergreen Playground in Glendale. Giordano stated that the project includes upgrades to play equipment as well as the removal of a little-used bocce court.
Fiedler also noted that structural damage found in the pathways between basins of the Ridgewood Reservoir has resulted in a threemonth delay in the Parks Department’s project to renovate the perimeter of the site. The Parks Department is also investigating potential repairs or replacement of the Brennan Field running track at Juniper Valley Park; the committee cochair stated that certain seams have become loose and “bubbling.”
Demolition notices
Arcuri announced that the board has received demolition notices for two locations: a garage at 81-15 Cypress Ave. in Ridgewood and a property at 51-45 70th St. in Woodside. Board members were advised to keep a careful eye on work at each location and to report any questionable activities immediately.
Liquor licenses
The board also received the following liquor license applications for its perusal:
– new liquor licenses for Romanian Society and Community Center, 59-15 Catalpa Ave., Ridgewood (formerly the Ridgewood VFW Post 123) and Silko Sports Lounge, 311 St. Nicholas Ave., Ridgewood.
– liquor license renewals for OFC Restaurant LLC, d.b.a. Tazzina, 75- 01 88th St., Glendale and 70th Ave. Restaurant Corp., d.b.a. The Cozy Corner, 60-01 70th Ave., Ridgewood;
– a new wine and/or beer license for Robert Thomas or Legal Entity to be Formed, d.b.a. Metro Pizzeria, 65- 26 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village (formerly Fortunata’s Pizzeria and Restaurant; the license request also includes a proposed outdoor seating area); and
– wine and/or beer license renewals for Antica Trattoria in Fresh Inc., d.b.a. Antica Trattoria, 68-10 Fresh Pond Rd., Ridgewood; Super Pollo Restaurant Inc., 865 Woodward Ave., Ridgewood; and Family Multimart LLC, 61-04 Fresh Pond Rd., Middle Village.
Those who wish to comment on any of the above applications may do so by calling Board 5 at the number listed at the end of this article.
Community Board 5 generally meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Regional High School, located at 68-02 Metropolitan Ave. in Middle Village. For more information, call the board’s Glendale office at 1-718-366-1834.
